OUR CHURCH 


VTS HISTORY ITS BUILDINGS 
LTS SPIRIT 





LIBRARY OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 


PRINCETON, N. J. 


PURCHASED BY THE 
MRS. ROBERT LENOX KENNEDY CHURCH HISTORY FUND. 


Division. LQ2ds..1. 





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THE MOTHERS’ WINDOW 
Dedicated May Ninth, Nineteen Hundred Twenty-Six 


OUR CHURCH 


IfS HISTORY ITS BUILDINGS 
ITS SPIRIT 


The Second Church in Newton 


West Newton, 1926 








DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE 
WHOSE LABOR AND SACRIFICE IN THE 
PAST HAVE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR 
PRESENT MEMBERS TO ENTER THE EC- 
CLESIASTICAL HERITAGE AND THERE 
ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP, THE BEAUTY, 
AND THE IDEALISM OF THE SECOND 
CHURCH OF NEWTON, WEST NEWTON. 


i. 
Sr, 
ND, 


Authorized by the Church Committee, Second Church of Newton 
West Newton 
Fune seven, Nineteen twenty-six 


For the use of many of the photographs the Committee ts indebted to 
Bachrach, Ine. 


THE COSMOS PRESS, INC. 
HARVARD SQUARE 
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 


FOREWORD 


OST of us accept the heritage of our present 

church — its buildings, its personnel, and its 
spirit — without serious thought of its founders and 
its long period of honorable history. We seldom think 
of the hundred and sixty-six years that have made 
their several and cumulative contributions to our 
growth. 

The editors of this volume, as they have delved 
into the archives and examined the old documents, 
have been brought face to face with the personalities 
of that older generation — men who were subjects of 
King George III, grew restive under his rule, and 
finally joined the Revolutionary ranks. But whether 
as English subjects or as American patriots, they 
were steadfast in their religious convictions and for- 
mulated here the polity and traditions to which we are 
still individually loyal. 

These documents of the past are very, very human 
documents. Evidently a good deal of the carnal and a 
good deal of the temperamental existed in those an- 
cient days—as they exist in these more modern times. 
Indeed, it is just such human touches that make the 
sympathy closer and the story more diverting. 

Naturally most of us will linger longest over the 
paragraphs that relate to ourselves and to the period 
in which as actors we conned our little parts. We have 
lived our recent years intensely, and we feel propor- 
tionately the quickened pulsations in the current 


record. We have been drawn into a very harmonious 
life, a very harmonious spirit. A knowledge of achieve- 
ment naturally comes, as we study our church roll 
and contemplate the architectural beauty of our 
church home, contrasting it with our first quaint build- 
ing of 1764 sketched below. But there is something 
more significant still; there is an understanding of a 
spiritual triumph—not, of course,completely attained, 
but clear in its outlines and radiant in its promise. 


The Second Church of Newton 
West Newton, Massachusetts, October, 1926 











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CONTENTS 

Foreword ae 

Historical Sketch of the Church 

Dates of Interest . 

Our Pastors 

Chronological Record of the Officers 
Deacons 
Clerks . 
Treasurers 

Our Tribute to Dr. Park 

The Building . 

Memorial and Presentation Gifts 

The Mothers’ Window . 

Our Mothers’ Names 

The Service 

Holy Communion 

Appendix Dae ; 
Early Minutes of the Church . 
Minutes of the Meeting, 1764 . he 
Deed Conveying Ground for the Church Building : 
Method of Raising Subscriptions . 
Minutes of Meeting, March 1, 1781 . 


Caterer’s Bill 
Deed of the Cemetery, ae 


Letter to Selectmen about an Intended Marriage 


Letter Concerning the Division of the Town into Two 
Parishes 


Method of Raising Minister’s athe 





oy Seat 
Sk ae 





OUR CHURCH HOUSE OF FIFTY WINDOWS BEFORE ALTERATIONS 
IN 1831 


Our Church: Its History, Its 
Buildings, Its Spirit 


The following historical sketch is founded upon the one hun- 
dred and twenty-fifth anniversary sermon, preached by Dr. 
Prudden, and revised by Dr. J. Edgar Park and Mr. Charles 
Swain Thomas. 


VEN the early settlers of New Town (or Cam- 
bridge, as it is now called) petitioned for more 
land, the General Court gave them, among other 
tracts, nearly all of what is now Newton. After some 
years this large township was divided, the part in 
which Harvard University stands was called Cam- 
bridge, and the name New Town was transferred to 
our present city. It remained “New Town”’ till a 
town clerk began to write the name as one word with a 
““w’’ omitted, and it has been Newton ever since. 

Needing a church nearer than Cambridge, those 
early settlers, numbering only forty-three freemen, 
established public worship in 1654, built a meeting 
house six years later, and organized the First Church 
of Christ in Newton in 1664 (now the First Congre- 
gational Church, in Newton Center). 

After one hundred and seventeen years, the resi- 
dents in this part of the town, now called West 
Newton, thought the First Church too distant; and so 
in 1764, though still belonging to the First Church and 
taxed for its support, they bought of the innkeeper 
eight rods of land on the north side of Washington 
Street, opposite Highland Street, for about $12, and 
built a very plain two-story meeting house, thirty by 
forty feet in size, without belfry or porch, unpainted 
within and without, but with an abundance of win- 
dows in both stories, and furnished with a high pulpit 


[11] 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


and rude benches; and it stood with its side, in which 
was the main entrance, towards the street. 

Here for fourteen years without organizing a church 
the people gathered for worship, the school teacher 
(who was usually a theological student) being engaged 
to preach or read a sermon on Sunday, while they per- 
sistently and annually, but vainly, petitioned the 
stubbornly resisting mother church for a share of the 
town tax to support public worship, and finally ap- 
pealed to the Legislature, which, in 1778, divided the 
town into an East and West parish by a line which ran 
from Watertown to a point a little west of Echo 
Bridge. 

For many years this line was not wholly defined. 
Mr. Seth Davis, writing in 1847, tells how the dispute 
as to its location broke out in the midst of a winter- 
squash yard at the junction of Pearl and Watertown 
Streets shortly after 1778, and the line passing over a 
large squash — the large end being east — the parties 
separated with no kind feelings, after using the nick- 
names “Squash End” and “Bellhack.” Years later 
“Old Gentleman Ward,” as he was called, made a 
famous reply to two gentlemen from another part of 
Newton who were bantering him for residing in 
“Squash End.” He replied that the * ‘seeds of that 
squash were mostly in the end of it.”” Up to the latter 
part of the nineteenth century the name “Squash 
End” for West Newton was still heard among the 
older inhabitants. 

The new parish, therefore, included Nonantum, 
most of Newtonville, West ‘Newton, Auburndale, 
Lower Falls, Waban, and all that portion of Waltham 
south of the Charles River — nearly half of the town- 
ship, but containing only one-third of the population. 
For there were but fourteen houses along this high- 
way from Newtonville to Lower Falls; only one house 
was between Newtonville and West Newton; only 


[12] 


Moet OR LA Ts BB? CHI OF? Wh Wey OH WU Row 


four houses were in West Newton, where one writer 
affirms “there were but fifteen houses in a region two 
miles square.”’ A tavern stood near the corner of Elm 
Street, behind the elm tree that fourteen years before 
this church was organized the landlord brought home 
on his shoulder and set out to please his wife. South 
and east were the wooded hills and rocky pastures. 
North and west were the tilled farms reaching to the 
river, and up the road a little distance was the school- 
house. | 

On October 21, 1781, the very day after Cornwallis 
surrendered, and before the news could have reached 
Boston, the people of this parish gathered one Thurs- 
day on the plot of ground where later our old Wash- 
ington Street church stood. Can you picture them 
coming from several directions under the October 
colors and sunshine, with tanned faces and hard hands, 
clad in homespun, riding on horseback, men with 
women behind them, the young people walking, the 
land sloping more rapidly than now to the babbling 
Cheesecake Brook, the horses tied to the nearest trees, 
the wooded hills, the open fields, the crooked and ill- 
made road? Probably all came who could, for to 
organize a church in the new parish was an event of 
universal interest. And when they had assembled in 
the now seventeen-year-old meeting house and lis- 
tened to a sermon from the pastor of the church at 
Brookline, thirteen men, including the pastor-elect, 
Mr. Greenough, who had preached for six months, 
stepped forward as their names were called. The twelve 
who responded probably symbolized the twelve dis- 
ciples. Some of them lived in what is now Waltham, 
and along the Charles River towards Nonantum, one 
near the Pine farm, one in Waban, one north of Au- 
burndale, and four on the Lower Falls road. Six of 
them had probably served in the war; two, and per- 
haps three of them, were over seventy years old; four 


[13] 


WHE. SiS CON D PCeEIVUN BR Cony Bra) OK: 


were about fifty; and five, thirty or under. And stand- 
ing there they assented to no creed, but covenanted 
together to form a church of Christ, and devoting 
themselves to the service of God, they agreed to walk 
in brotherly fellowship as a church, and signed their 
names to the covenant. | 

It was voted: “In order to entitle any person to 
either of the ordinances of the Christian Scriptures — 
namely, baptism and the Lord’s Supper — he shall 
make a public confession of religion and dedication of 
himself to God; and that every person so doing shall 
be entitled to both ordinances, and may come to them 
without making any other profession of his faith and 
belief. The Boston Independent Chronicle reporting the 
services, adds:— ““A remarkable decency and good 
order were preserved through the whole solemnity.” 

It is true that, under the strain of theological con- 
troversies in later days, the church did adopt elabo- 
rate theological creeds as tests for membership, but in 
the pastorate of Dr. Park, when the church was in- 
corporated in Ig9i4, it returned to its earliest practice, 
and the only creeda/ test included in its by-laws is now 
that “this church shall consist of all disciples of our 
Lord Jesus Christ who shall, upon recommendation of 
the Executive Committee, be accepted by vote of the 
church and shall enter into its covenant and subscribe 
to its by-laws.” 

The covenant 1s: “In accordance with your purpose 
to live a Christian life, you now heartily unite with 
this church, to share with us its work and worship; 
covenanting with God and with us to be loyal to it in 
all things, to attend (so far as possible) its appointed 
services, to guard its good name, to promote its 
usefulness and prosperity as God’s instrument for the 
good of men, and to walk with us in love and faithful- 
ness so long as your relations with us shall continue.” 

Two weeks from the Monday following this mem- 


[14] 


Bava? ORC A Lb 7SiK*E TCH VOUr, TBESOC HU R: Cia 


orable assembly day the young pastor (aged twenty- 
five) was ordained and installed; a week later thirteen 
women were added; and so the church was formed 
with twenty-six members, all save two from the First 
Church, which for seventeen years had fought the 
existence of a second church, and for twenty years 
longer continued to dispute with it about the minis- 
terial wood lot, but sent it as part of the communion 
furnishings a pewter dish and four pewter flagons. 

Its first pastor, and its pastor for fifty years, was 
Rev. William Greenough, valedictorian of his class at 
Yale, and later a student at Harvard, from which he 
received the degree of M.A.— a tall and genial gentle- 
man of some wealth and great good sense, who dressed 
in knee breeches and wore silver-buckled shoes and a 
cocked hat long after that costume was generally 
abandoned. In the pulpit he wore a white stock and 
bands and a preacher’s gown. He was greatly be- 
loved and wielded a wide influence, both within his 
parish and beyond it. His hospitable home was 
behind abundant lilac bushes and tall elms on the 
west side of Washington Street, between Auburn and 
Greenough Streets, where his farm was. For many 
years his salary was about $266, paid in rye at four 
shillings, or corn at three shillings a bushel, or pork 
at three pence and two farthings, or beef at two pence 
and two farthings a pound, together with fifteen cords 
of wood; it never was very much more. Indeed, he is 
said to have given more to the church financially than 
it ever paid him. 

For thirty years he preached in the old building, 
with its glaring and shutterless windows, its bare walls, 
its uncarpeted floor and its unpainted seats; and it 
remained unchanged, except that a stove was secured 
after eighteen years, and the rough benches gradually 
gave place to square pews with hinged seats on each 
side, which those who could afford to pay five pounds 


[15] 


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OUR BEAUTIFUL OLD HOME, BUILT IN 1848, BEFORE THE 
ALTERATIONS OF 1885-86 


Hibs TOR tC ATS BET CoH ao Fo vk oO HU RO 


for a “pew spot” bought and built upon. And such 
““pew spots” were not all disposed of till 1804. 

Mr. Greenough died in 1831, at the age of seventy- 
five, four days after preaching his fiftieth anniversary 
sermon in Squire Davis’s schoolhouse on Waltham 
Street, as the meeting house was being repaired. His 
body was buried in the old River Street cemetery. 
He was succeeded immediately by Rev. Lyman 
Gilbert, who for three years had been his colleague, 
and was sole pastor for twenty-five subsequent years. 
Dr. Gilbert was born in Brandon, Vermont, in 1798 
and was a graduate of Middlebury College and of 
Andover Theological Seminary. In a paper con- 
tributed by Dr. Gilbert for the one hundredth anni- 
versary of this church, he describes the parish as he 
found it in 1831, when there were but sixty houses and 
four hundred and eighty people between Lower Falls 
and Watertown, and only forty families connected 
with the church, which had but fifty members. “In 
the community were counted twenty drunkards, and 
twenty more occupying a doubtful position.” There 
was a private English school and two one-story dis- 
trict schools of one room each. “I found no doctor, 
yet the people were healthy; no lawyer, for the people 
were peaceable; no ex-minister, for all the ministers 
were needed in those days; no liberally educated man, 
for his proper work was elsewhere. The people were 
farmers, mechanics, and other laborers. Only one 
piano was in the place. The church was lighted by 
fifty windows. A bell for the first time had been put 
up to ring in the coming of the new pastor. My salary 
was $600, and raised by taxation. In the limits of the 
parish were two corporations, which have no souls and 
could not ‘sign off.’ The two paid about one-third of 
my salary, but when the law was repealed three years 
after, having no souls to care for, they ceased paying.” 

But they were “a united and loving people, working 


[17] 





REV. HENRY J. PATRICK, D.D. 
Installed, September 26, 1860 Resigned, September 26, 1893 


Pits? O Rc C ADS KOE T CiHiyO'F \TiaeyCH U ROH 


together to the extent of their ability, and beyond, to 
maintain the gospel at home, and contribute to the 
various benevolent objects presented.” While Dr. 
Gilbert was pastor, the new church was erected and 
nearly paid for by the sale of pews, and the railroad to 
West Newton was finished. 

Dr. Gilbert was succeeded by Rev. Joseph P. 
Drummond, who was born in Bristol, Maine, in 1824. 
Mr. Drummond’s successor was Rev. George B. Little, 
born in Castine, Maine, in 1821. These two young 
men had been classmates at Bowdoin College and 
were also graduates of Andover Theological Seminary. 
Both were brilliant men; but each came to West 
Newton with incipient tuberculosis upon him, and 
died shortly after coming — the former in the first 
year of his service, at the age of thirty-three, the latter 
in the second year of his service, at the age of thirty- 
six. The council that dismissed Mr. Drummond in- 
stalled Mr. Little. 

After three months, Rev. Henry Johnson Patrick, 
born in Warren, Massachusetts in 1827, a graduate of 
Amherst College and Andover Seminary, and D.D. 
of Amherst, was installed as fifth pastor of the church. 
He remained pastor for nearly thirty-four years and 
was pastor-emeritus until the time of his death in 1909. 
His connection with the church thus lasted for nearly 
half a century. He became one of the leaders of church 
life in Greater Boston. Under him the village church 
became suburban. In later life he lost his sight and 
called upon his wonderful memory to enable him to 
preach, recite Scripture, and conduct services of wor- 
ship for his beloved people. He and Mrs. Patrick 
lived for many years in Newtonville, patron saints of 
the church they had done so much to foster. 

The council that dismissed Dr. Patrick installed his 
successor, Rev. Theodore P. Prudden, D.D., who for 
thirteen years was pastor of the church. Dr. Prudden 


[19] 





REV. THEODORE P. PRUDDEN, D.D. 


Installed, April 17, 1894 


Resigned, December 30, 














fer O NA CAL SBE T Cony O Fo RABE CoA UR Gy et 


led the church during the difficult years of theologi- 
cal reconstruction, when the old views were being 
modified by the new. He was a fearless exponent of 
the modern standpoint, and taught the results of the 
scholarship of his day with earnestness and power. 
He was a man of tender heart, and his sympathy and 
friendship meant much to those in sorrow. He lived 
to see the walls of the new church rising, and en- 
couraged both minister and people with his hearty 
support in the enterprise. Dr. Prudden was succeeded 
in 1907 by Rev. John Edgar Park of Andover, Mass., 
who was born in 1879 in Belfast, Ireland, and is a 
graduate of the Royal University of Ireland, Dublin, 
and of Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Park 
resigned in 1926 to become President of Wheaton 
College. 

Let us not forget that for thirty-one years this was 
the only church of any kind in this half of Newton; 
and for sixty-eight years it was the only church, save 
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lower Falls, and that 
it has contributed of its members to form St. Mary’s 
Church, in 1812; the church in Waltham, in 1820; 
the Unitarian Church in West Newton, in 1848; 
the church at Auburndale, in 1850; the Methodist 
Church at Newtonville, in 1863, and at Auburndale, 
in 1864; the Baptist Church, West Newton, in 1866; 
the Central Church at Newtonville, which grew out of 
a prayer meeting appointed and regularly attended by 
Dr. Patrick, in 1868; and finally the Church of the 
Messiah at Auburndale, and St. John’s Church, 
Newtonville, in 1898. In territory which was once its 
sole parish, there are now scores of churches. When it 
was founded there were in Massachusetts only the 
following number of churches: Roman Catholic 1, 
Universalist 3, Quaker 6, Episcopalian 11, Baptist 68, 
Congregationalist 330. Unitarianism appeared the 
next year, and Methodism nine years later. 


[21] 





OUR FORMER CHURCH HOME ON WASHINGTON STREET, 
VACATED IN 1916 


Moe nul CAI Ss ROBT CH COP iA AR CO Ho UO R Oo 


Since that first building, reared one hundred and 
sixty-two years ago (in 1764), it has had but two new 
meeting houses, but it has made frequent enlarge- 
ments and improvements. In 1812 the primitive 
structure was moved back, lengthened fourteen feet, 
and adorned with porches, a belfry, larger galleries 
and aricher pulpit. Nineteen years later (1831) it was 
turned around facing the street, its galleries removed, 
and it was furnished with more modern pews. The next 
year its first small vestry was made in the basement. 

In 1848, when it was sixty-seven years old, the new 
church, with graceful spire and basement vestry, was 
built, and the old church, some of the timbers of which 
are in the present city hall, became a town house. 

In 1885-1886 the church was again moved back, its 
graceful spire removed, and transepts added and the 
commodious parish house built in front. Again, in 
1894, the auditorium was extended from the pillars 
outward and fitted with new pews and furniture; and 
in 1898, the large assembly room became a complete 
chapel and Sunday School room. 

In December, 1908, a meeting of the congregation 
was held upon the recommendation of the church 
committee, at which the question of rebuilding the 
church was mentioned. It was felt that for reasons 
both of economy and dignity the time had come to 
plan for a new church. The suggestion was well re- 
ceived, and the congregation pledged itself by a rising 
vote to support the movement heartily. The sum of 
$37,500 was raised at Easter, 1909, for this purpose, 
and an Faster offering was devoted annually to this 
new church building till, on October 1, 1916, it was 
dedicated, free of all debt. The old church building 
became a part of the city property. A map had been 
constructed showing the location of every family in 
the parish and the new site on the side hill above the 
railroad station was found to be the geographical 


[ 23 ] 








A GENERAL VIEW OF THE PARISH HOUSE, SPIRE, CHURCH, AND GROUNDS 


Peto me OA Des kik DiC Ho OF Che Bil CoH UR CH 


center of the parish. Many hundreds of individuals 
contributed to the building. A plan of the spire was 
circulated and contributions of the cost of a stone or a 
pinnacle came in just in time to make it possible to 
build the spire, also, before the dedication. The 
ladies of the parish held a memorable fair on the site 
of the new church which realized the cost of the fur- 
nishings. At one of the offerings for the building fund 
the following circular was distributed in the homes of 
the people. 


64 the earlp pears of the Twentieth Century, a 

iat Netw Church was built in West Newton, Mas 

sachusetts by the People who called themsel 
bes Congregational, which bas been Justly Famed 
ever since as one of the Most Beautiful Churches 
in the Country. 
q “flanp Reasons habe been giben for its Wonder 
ful Beauty. But an Old Document from the pear 1911 
by been recently Discovered which Explains the twhale 
atter. 
q “Ht is therein Stated that this Church was not bu 
ilt ta Order bp a Few Men, as so manp readp-made 
Churches of that Time were, but that Every Man, Hom 
an and Child in the Whole Parish helped to Build the 
Church, there not being a Single One who Leaned back 
and said “Let the @thers do it!’”’ 
q ‘“‘Cberpone Rich and Poor, Doung and Old alike brou 
ght of their Werp Best. Three great Easter Sundaps 
were held as Festivals of Generosity upon which Coe 
n the filost Liberal surprised themselves and the More 
Prudent Ones bloomed out into Glorious Prodigality of 
Cheerful Gibing. 
q ‘ut of the Generous Lobe with which these people 
loved their ew Church before it was Born, there came 
to light this World-famed Sanctuary, built not so much 
of Wood and Stone as out of the Love and Self-sacrifi 
ce of a Whole Generation. 
q “That is whp in our Prapers we thank God for the 
Early Twentieth Century. That is whp we Journey 
even from Japan to sap our Prapers within it, and aft 
er these Manp Dears amid the Multitudinous Ruins of 
Later Churches it still Remains and will Eber Remain 
a Joy Forever.” 
Extract from 
‘‘The Early Chronicles of 
the Twentieth Century”’ 
(Tokio, 2131 A. D.) 


[25] 


LHDOI’ Ly SAV “a °H “YN AUNV ‘qaLvas SHOIMLVd *SuW ‘NAdGanud “Ad ‘yuvd ‘Yd ‘“NOILVOIGAdG ANOLS YANUOS 








Meet RECALL! S hin TCR 10 F yr Biko HOR Ort 


The church for long did not grow rapidly. From 
1781 to the end of Dr. Patrick’s ministry in 1893, 
1,022 members joined it; while under the pastorate of 
Dr. Prudden 209 united. After that the suburb grew 
rapidly and during Dr. Park’s leadership more than 
1,000 members were added. Its membership on the 
day of the acceptance of Dr. Park’s resignation was 
exactly 1000. 

This church has always been progressive. It was a 
pioneer in the custom of reading the Bible without 
comment as a part of worship, it having been voted at 
the first business meeting ‘‘that a portion of Scripture 
be read in public on each part of the Lord’s Day.” 
It was a pioneer in church music, being among the 
first to adopt singing by note, which many other 
churches opposed because their fathers had sung in 
another way, and before it was eight years old it voted 
fifty dollars for the improvement of psalm singing. 
It was a pioneer in having a choir, in using a bass viol 
and other new musical instruments, and in adopting 
congregational singing, in which for years it greatly 
excelled. It was a pioneer in the custom of having 
separate communion services. It has progressively 
used as musical instruments, a pitch-pipe, a bass viol, 
a violin, a flute, a melodeon, a small reed organ, a 
pipe and reed organ, a small pipe organ, and an organ 
which, having been purchased of the First Congrega- 
tional Church, Manchester, N. H., after twenty years 
of use, was set up here in 1876, and remained in use 
till 1916. 

The church was among the earliest to establish a 
Sunday School, which met for the first time at nine 
o'clock on Sunday morning, with thirty children to 
start with, in the spring of 1819 in a little schoolhouse 
on Waltham Street, opposite the Davis school. After 
two or three years, the church authorities were con- 
vinced that it was a good thing, and allowed it to 


[27] 


ATAH SI TOOHOS HOUNHD AHL AYAHM “TAdVHO AHL AO MAIA TVAANAS V 








HISTORTCALD SKE TCH) OF (THE CHURCH 


convene in the “meeting house.” It is doubtful if any 
school in any church can show such a record of long 
and always successful labor as that of Miss S. Maria 
Clarke, who was connected with the primary depart- 
ment for nearly fifty years. 

The progressive spirit of the church has been mani- 
fested especially since the erection of the new build- 
ing. This was the first church of our order ever to 
build this type of building with chancel and stone 
altar, and the first to inaugurate such types of service 
as have been used here. The musical services, also, 
in many of their features were first instituted here in a 
church of our communion. Our special confirmation 
and vesper services, with their beauty of form, color, 
and lights, and our early celebration of the Sacrament 
first appeared here in a Pilgrim church. New types of 
young people’s society, of prayer meeting and of church 
school came into being here for the first time. Even 
the main features of our methods of raising money for 
benevolences and church support were new. During 
Dr. Park’s pastorate the parish organization was abol- 
ished, the church incorporated, and the pews made 
free; the women’s organizations were amalgamated; 
chorus choirs and children’s choirs succeeded the old 
quartette; symbolism was introduced as an aid to 
worship. 

During the sinking of the tracks of the Boston and 
Albany Railroad, a number of Italian immigrants came 
to the city as laborers. They settled in West Newton 
and the colony rapidly increased. The church held 
classes and socials for them in the church rooms till 
the public schools and other agencies took up the work. 

In the year 1908 a Men’s Club was formed. For 
several years it was conducted by our own members. 
Its scope and membership were finally extended until 
now it is acommunity club, vitally concerned in the 
welfare of West Newton. 


[29 ] 


YVM GTUOM AHL ONIUNA SUAWAOM SSOUD GIA NOLMAN LSAaM JO dNOUSD TVOIdAL V 








Pipe Ora S sRoBV Ci Ha O Fy TeRibyC H. UR CH 


During the terrible years of the World War the 
church was the scene of incessant activity. The Red 
Cross meetings occupied all the rooms of the parish 
house, and services of prayer were largely attended. 
A memorable scene took place when a score of young 
men, members of the church, were shortly to leave for 
active service. Coming into the chancel, they knelt 
down, quite filling it, and received communion to- 
gether. The remembrance of the intensity of petition 
which went up from every heart at that service is 
vivid in the minds of all who partook in it. 

Another most impressive service was the dedica- 
tion of the Parish House on October 1, 1916. There 
the children solemnly repeated the following vow. 


In time of Great Wars our fathers have built in peace this House 
of Prayer. 


We, their children, pledge to it our honor and respect. 


We promise to love it as our parents’ gift to us:— its spire lifted 
up amid the sailing birds and silent air, its songs and music, the 
light of its windows, and this the Chapel of our Sunday School. 


As MEN we will protect it from all injury as we would our city. 


As WOMEN we will keep it fair and beautiful for our children’s 
children. 

We promise to enter into its services with gladness, to behave in 
it with reverence, and to help fill it with the joyful, friendly 
spirit of Jesus. 

We will do our part to make it the best church in all the world. 
SO HELP US GOD. 


The new church building lent itself to the antiph- 
onal music of answering choirs and to the loveliness 
of the Children’s Day service when the glory of young 
life flooded up the chancel and the great cross of 
kneeling children touched the aisle and transepts. 

During the first quarter of the twentieth century 
the church building has been uniformly filled at 
morning worship and has taken its place as one of the 


[31] 


MOANIM SdITTIHd AHL FO MAIA V GNV LdoSNVUL HLYON AHL NI UIOHD §S NAUGTIHO FHL 








Pile hen tk AS KOR On Or OT Be CHO RiG-H 


leading churches of Greater Boston. Special services, 
such as that in which the children themselves dedi- 
cated the new font, or when the Mothers’ Window 
was consecrated in 1926, brought home to people a 
sense of the inherent loveliness of true worship. 

Second Church Day was inaugurated early in the 
twentieth century as a festival when the material 
foundations of each new year’s work should be laid in 
democratic manner by all the people. 

An interesting feature of the church’s life in later 
days has been the revival of interest in the Wednes- 
day evening prayer meeting. With something of 
Quaker simplicity and a genuine desire to practice the 
healing power of God in man, the prayer meeting has 
ceased to become an ill-attended minor edition of a 
preaching service and has attracted a group of those 
who are interested in making use of the power of God 
for the health and happiness of themselves and of 
others. 

The benevolence of the church has gone far and 
wide throughout the world. The reading of the 
treasurer's reports for the past years brings out the 
fact that no great human end has been neglected, 
whether in the United States or in the uttermost parts 
of the earth. 

In conclusion a word may be said of the growth of 
West Newton itself and of its relation to wider 
affairs. 

Early in the nineteenth century West Newton first 
came into prominence among the adjacent villages. 
It became a regular stopping place for stage-coaches, 
as many as thirty a day making a halt at the inn on 
Washington Street. The academy of Master Seth 
Davis did much to bring the village into prominence. 

In the year 1834 West Newton was made the 
terminus of the railroad. Mrs. Caroline J. Barker, 
who lived in West Newton until the year 1925, re- 


[33 ] 


WUOdLV1d AHL NO XUVd “Yd GNV NAGanwd ‘ua °*$161 “Er aANnf ‘ANOLS YANUOD JO NOLLVOIAGIA 








Peter Aen Qaeda is ey LC ra OF BUI EB: OH) OU Ry Cry 


membered the first train on that railroad, an object 
of great curiosity to all the inhabitants. 

The first preaching services were held in 1760. The 
minister was hired to keep the public school during 
the winter months and to preach on the Sabbath. 
The history of the church thus begins somewhere 
about 1760. We know that in the year 1660 there 
were probably only three settlers in the part of the 
country known now as West Newton. They were 
Thomas Park, John Fuller, and Isaac Williams. Isaac 
Williams’s house was near the brook. He was a 
weaver by trade and was a selectman representing the 
town in the General Court for six years. 

For many years all that we know of West Newton is 
contained in the history of the church. It sent of its 
young men to the ranks of the Revolutionary Army, 
and many of them lost their lives in the battles of 
that war. ; 

A scene that remained in the minds of many was 
the funeral of three soldiers of the Civil War who were 
killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. The three caskets 
ranged in front of the pulpit with the mournful drap- 
ings of the house and the sad service recall a day of 
darkness when the hearts of all were oppressed with 
anxiety. The church granted leave of absence to the 
minister in 1865 for a term of two months’ service in 
the Christian Commission at City Point, Virginia. 
(In the World War a similar grant of absence was 
made to the minister of the church in connection with 
the Y. M. C. A. at the army camps. A large number 
of young men of the church served at the front during 
that war, and one of them, a young colored bugler, 
Clifford K. Meekins, made the supreme sacrifice.) 

And what has the church accomplished during 
these one hundred and sixty-six years? God only 
knows it all. But it certainly nurtured and molded 
the moral and religious character of this part of 


[35] 


THE3S £C.ONID*C HaULRICiH 7B OO 








Newton during this long formative period. It not only 
led men to fear God and keep His commandments, but 
educated them to listen to closely argued sermons 
Sunday after Sunday. It brought this village here; 
for the meeting house was not placed where it is be- 
cause the village was here, but the village grew where 
the church was. During all these years it has main- 
tained a sanctuary amid the temptations and sorrows 
of life, and the services which have tended to make 
duty more clear and imperative, life more beautiful, 
trials more endurable,courage more strong,and mercy, 
patience, hope, and faith more abundant. To the 
doubting and the despondent it has given visions of 
God. The atmosphere it has created has made better 
citizens, fathers, mothers, homes, children. Without 
what it has done, you would not wish to live here. It 
has ministered materially to the poor, the distressed, 
the weak, and the needy, and reminded the sick, the 
aged, and the mourning of the eternal love within and 
about them. But the best part of its history cannot be 
written, because it has not yet been made. 





[ 36] 


DAVEE SO°R DN OTE Rees 


DATES OF INTEREST 


Giureniga thered'in schoolhouse 'i))).)) 4.08 6 Sas, 1760 
MISE CUULCDONCINE 9% Pari a” Gah ree Pore ede nytin. ek 704, 
BIREOMTEATHZEC ect Lhe teny LAID eed WMH fete, SETS 
Sauren organized | |. ete RAR ESN a de 
Rev. William Greenough teenie’ nese Ph NOVe Seat? 
Stove to heat meeting house presented . . .. . . 1799 
muurcne enlargediand re-dedicated) «0 4 bei ee eae RTD 
Pere SO NOOLSLACtEC Ir iG): Sab yitul i eM o Mke) | RENO 
Church bell presented . . . Pe nace weal | fs '2 43 
Rev. Lyman Gilbert, D.D. Rineralled eee WOOL MAB h abl iie. bd: 
Old square pews removed, vestry made under church. . 1831 
West Newton made terminus of newrailroad . . . . 1834 
PeNnrereae to cownor towed Waller hile 6 <i) lk bak eae 
New church built with neworgan . «0. 4. we es 1848 
Rev. Joseph Drummond installed pastor . . . . Jan. 2, 1856 


Rev. George B. Little installed pastor . . . March 12, 1857 
Rev. Henry J. Patrick, D.D., installed pastor . Sept. 26, 1860 


Ee IC ACER tg hoe! igh sign ia aut os Lanta dae x tet hO7 
New organinstalled. . ... AUN EON eee RD a teRe ecto. 
Parish house built in front of ae ana 1885 


Rev. Theodore P. Prudden, D.D., installed Pah Aoelie 17, 1894 
Transepts added to church and new pews purchased . . 1894 
Rev. J. Edgar Park, D.D., installed pastor . . Dec. 12, 1907 


Congregation votes torebuild church . . . . Dec. 13, 1908 
SS OTEIMIaCeOLatcGir iim ee tanya. eel ea eR Si TOTS. 
Corner stone of newchurch laid. . . . . . June 13, 1915 
Mr. William L. Bates becomes choirmaster . . April 1, 1916 
Dem GROUT ca edicatcde atu ware eeh ti eid) Octats 1916 
Dore Renicated’) hawaii reine teh ay ©. UP UNe? E2\ TARO 
Mother’s window dedicated . . .. . . . Mayg, 1926 


[37] 


TH Es S'EACiON- D> C AOU RC HB OlOuk. 


OUR PASTORS 


Rev. WILLIAM GREENOUGH 


Ordained, Nov. 8, 1781 Deceased, Nov. Io, 1831 
Rev. LyMan GILBERT, D.D. 
Ordained, July 2, 1828 Resigned, Jan. 2, 1856 
Rev. JosEpH P. DRumMMonpD 
Ordained, Jan. 2, 1856 Resigned, Nov. 12, 1857 
Rev. Georc_E B. LItTLe 
Installed, Nov. 12, 1857 Deceased, July 20, 1860 
Rev. Henry J. Patrick, D.D. 

Installed, Sept. 26, 1860 Resigned, Sept. 29, 1893 
Rev. THEoODoRE P. PruppeEn, D.D. 
Installed, April 17, 1894 Resigned, Dec. 30, 1906 
Rey. J. Epcar Park, D.D. 

Installed, Dec. 12, 1907 Resigned, Oct. 4, 1926 


[38 ] 


CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD 


CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD 


OF THE 


OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH 


JosepH Warp . 
JosepH JACKSON . 
Enocu Warp . 
JosepH FULLER 
Tuomas Eustis, JR. 
JosEpH ADAmMs 
BENJAMIN FULLER 
Jor. FULLER 

JosEpH STONE . 
SAMUEL WARREN . 
Orin F. Wooprorp . 
JosepH W. SToNnE 
SAMUEL F, Dix 
LEMUEL E. CASWELL 
J. B. Wuirmore . 
Jutius L. CLarKke 
Harzan P. BarBer . 
Rurus W. KrenDALL 


GRANVILLE B. Putnam. 


N. Emmons PAINE 

S. Epwarp HowarpD 
Cuar_es E. BRAMAN 
ArtTuur F. Hotpen . 
Wo. G. FoLtsom 

Won. G. BELL . 

M. Frank Lucas. 
Wa LteER B. Davis 
Epwarp M. Ha.u 
CuaArRLEs E. Gipson . 
Henry B. Day 
Rosert H. Gross 
WILLIAM KELLAR 
Epwarp A. MarsH . 
ARTHUR S. KIMBALL 


DEACONS 


1897-1902, 1903- 1905, 


1900-1904, 


910-1 914, 
IgIO-I917, 


1913-1 920, 


1781-1784 
1781-1803 
1789-1789 
1793-1811 
1800-1806 
1806-1813 
1817-1828 
1817-1848 
1845-1852 
1845-1852 
1852-1856 
1853-1886 
1856-1876 
1868-1871 
1871-1887 
1868-1900 
1876-1900 
1885-1892 
1887-1897 
1907-1911 
1906-1910 
1900-1905 
IgOO-IgoI 
IgOI—1904 
1902-1906 
1905-1909 
IgOg-IgI2 
1921-1923 
1918-1923 


1897-1900, 1904-1908, edn 1918, 1919-1925 


IgI2-1919 
1922— 


18921 897, beta te 1914-1915 


1914-1916 


[39] 


THE SECON DOCIHIOIR CHB O08 


GeorceE P. Hatcu 

James W. Hammonp 
Epwarp G. PERRY 

Dana LisBEy . 

BENJAMIN J. BowEN 
JosepH A. SyMonDs . 
HersBertT M. Coie : 
FREDERICK J. FESSENDEN . 
CHARLES SWAIN THOMAS 
FREDERICK S. Harpy 


CLERKS 


Rev. WILLIAM GREENOUGH 
Rev. Lyman GILBERT 
Henry L. Wuitinc . 
SAMUEL F. Dix 
Juuius L. Clarke 
Cuares A. WyMAn 
FrANK R. BarKER 
Cuares A. WyMAN 
Henry B. Patrick . 
CuarLes A. Wyman. 
GeEorGE F. Larcom . 
JosepH D. Woop. 


TREASURERS 


JosEPH JACKSON . 
JosEPH FULLER 
NATHAN FULLER . 
JoeL FuLLER 
SAMUEL WARREN. 
Orin F. Wooprorp . 
JosErpH W. Stone 
SAMUEL F. Dix 
Jutius L. CLarKE 
Joun J. Eppy . 
Cuinton L. Eppy 
CuHaARLEs R. FIsHEr . 
Wa ter B. Davis 
WiiiaM F. CuHase 


[ 40 ] 


IgI§—1921 
Ig16-1922 
1917-1920 
1920-1926 
Ig2I- 
1923-1923 
1924- 
1924- 
1925~ 
1926— 


1781-1831 
1831-1853 
1856-1863 
1853-1856 
1863-1900 
IgOO-1g902 
1902-1903 
1903-1910 
IQIO-I9I4 
Igi4—I916 
1916-1920 
1920- 


1782-1799 
1799-I8I1I 
1811-1822 
1822-1845 
1845-1853 
1853-1856 
1856-1864 
1864-1875 
1875-1890 
1890-I90I 
1901-1908 
1908-1912 
I9gI2-I9I4 
I9I4-- 


Our Tribute to Dr. Park 





REV. J. EDGAR PARK, D.D. 
Installed, December 12, 1907 Resigned, October 4, 1926 


Aer DON FOR KoDN GS)a0-0 


AA Pioneering Soul 


Why laud alone the distant pioneer 

And stress the havoc of our ancient wood? 
The hewing of those olden pathways should 
Indeed command the tribute of the seer — 
Should bid us in a reverent spirit rear 

The shaft which honors a grim hardihood 
That kept its faith in time’s unhalcyon mood 
And wrested harvests from a prospect drear. 
But pioneering moments are not dead; 

A soul among us blazes forth new ways; 

The vigor of his stroke is echoing now. 

As workers venture whither he has led, 

The wide wastes quicken under prophet rays; 
A newer challenge prompts a loftier vow. 


[43 ] 






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Page Or) Dees 


OUR TRIB U TE TOreD R.FPA RK 


OUR, FRIBU TE? TO:. DR. PARK 


A® the more recent years, under our present pastor, 
are to many of us of most significance, it is worth 
our while to pay to him here the tribute which his ser- 
vice has made so abundantly deserving. 

For nineteen years, Dr. J. Edgar Park has been 
the minister of the Congregational Church of West 
Newton, where he has not only gathered together a 
great congregation and built one of the most beautiful 
churches in New England, but has gained and held the 
love and respect of all with whom he has come in con- 
tact. Himself an accomplished scholar, Dr. Park comes 
of distinguished ancestry. For fifty years his father 
was minister of the leading Presbyterian church in 
Ireland, while his grandfather and great-grandfather 
were professors of theology. Educated in private 
schools, Dr. Park graduated from Queen’s College, 
Belfast, and the Royal University, Dublin, where he 
won honors in mathematics and modern and Oriental 
literature. He did post-graduate work in Leipsic, Edin- 
burgh, Princeton, and Oxford, and studied theology in 
the Assembly’s College, Belfast, and in New College, 
Edinburgh. At Belfast he received the gold medal for 
distinction, and at Tufts College he was granted the 
honorary D.D. He married Grace Burtt of Andover, 
formerly a teacher of mathematics and Greek. His 
four children have all been educated in our Newton 
schools. 

Intensely human and finely sympathetic with the 
next generation, Dr. Park has been welcomed as 
preacher and lecturer in many colleges and other edu- 
cational centers. At intervals he has published a dozen 
or more books and has contributed to the 4étlantic 


[45 ] 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


Monthly and other leading magazines. Small wonder, 
then, that Wheaton College, deprived of leadership by 
the death of its president, the late Dr. Samuel V. Cole, 
should turn for aid to the pastor of our church. 

We measure the worth of a man by the influence he 
exerts on us in both collective and personal ways. 
Judged by either of these standards, the influence of 
Dr. Park has been most significant. 

For nearly two decades we have listened to him as 
he preached his Sunday sermons, as he conducted the 
ritual services, as he led the worship in his more in- 
formal talks at the mid-week meetings, and on other 
occasions when he has spoken in public or addressed 
us through the medium of Second Thoughts. Always 
he has spoken or written the appropriate, the perti- 
nent, the inspiring word. The congregated listeners 
have become a welded unit as they have responded to 
his thought and his emotion. 

During the years of his pastorate, the practical 
affairs of the church have been largely shaped by his 
fine executive spirit. Here, too, we have felt the in- 
fluence of collectivism. We have been willing to fol- 
low a leadership that we have recognized as highly 
intelligent and highly spiritual. We have felt the pride 
and the exaltation that rest with the consciousness of 
harmonious and unified movement — the satisfaction 
that comes when toil is coSperant toward a previsioned 
end. And this we have all felt in a collective way. 

Deeply as we appreciate this congregational in- 
fluence, it is, after all, in personal and individual ways 
that Dr. Park’s influence has been most keenly and 
most delicately felt. As a guest in our homes and at 
our social gatherings, he has entertained us with his 
rare, original humor; he has shared with us the results 
of his intellectual adventures; he has come to us in the 
hour of our perplexity and has made us see truth in a 
finer and more restricted focus; he has spoken to our 


[ 46 ] 


OU LRA RL BU TEST OO D Rene ALR 


children in tones that won their willing attention and 
secured the quickened individual response. 

And when the greatest of all griefs has come to us, 
he has always understood. His silence, or the pressure 
of his hand, or the words and tone of his utterance 
have revealed his great sympathy and yielded us a 
very tender and a very personal consolation. 

All these qualities in our pastor we, in quiescent 
ways, have all the while known and valued. But when 
word came that he was leaving us, the very sense of 
oncoming loneliness and withdrawal somehow brought 
his worth into clearer outline and to a higher level. 
We had to summon all our philosophy to reconcile us 
to his going. We knew that he had thought his prob- 
lem through. The high motives that had directed his 
decision should, we determined, dictate our acquies- 
‘cence. Our own deep regret has made all the clearer 
those intellectual and spiritual qualifications which 
promise so much for the future of Wheaton College. 
On that high altar we lay our personal sacrifices. 


[47] 





THE SPIRE THAT SYMBOLIZES OUR SPIRITUAL YEARNING 


aon Ek BUBLID ING 


THE BUILDING 
aa early builders planned their churches to be 


seen by oncoming bands of pilgrims from afar, 
and so they erected the spire, like a great finger reach- 
ing to heaven, above the nave. A church such as this 
might be first caught sight of by such a band of pil- 
grims winding in and out among the Waltham hills, 
the spire seen at every rise and turn in the road and 
then lost again as the pilgrims descended into the 
valley. As an observer approaches the church and 
makes his way up towards the door two strange 
objects greet him at either side. A dragon-like figure 
is perched as though in the act of springing out at 
either side of the main entrance. A quaint old legend 
clings to these two gargoyles. The story is that once, 
while an exceedingly eloquent monk was preaching to 
his congregation, his gospel proved so persuasive that 
the devils who made their familiar abode in the hearts 
of his congregation, one by one were frightened off, 
and leaving the listening people, escaped out of the 
church in terror. But there were two gospel-hardened 
listeners, a man and his wife, so impervious to the 
preaching of the good father that their devils refused 
to be exorcised. They remained crouched within the 
two hearers’ souls, peering wickedly out of their eyes. 
The good monk increased his eloquent appeal and at 
last dislodged these two recalcitrant spirits. They 
left the hearts of the two sinners, but had not time 
before the benediction to get through the walls of the 
church. At the words of the blessing they were caught 
three-quarters through the walls; and were there ever- 
lastingly turned to stone. A cynical male observer 
has differentiated between our two gargoyles by 
noticing that the mouth of one is open and that of the 


[49 ] 





OUR CHURCH SPIRE AS VIEWED FROM HIGHLAND STREET 


pent BOUT Di tcN G 


other is closed. He holds that the one with the open 
mouth is the female gargoyle, but this is not in the 
tradition as it is told in the Fathers. 

Christianity is an open-air religion. Our church is 
set in a yard kept as neat and fair as is possible: it is 
one with the grass and the trees and the sky. Only 
from a world made as lovely as one can make it does 
one dare to point to heaven. 

In the church tower hangs the bell directing, like 
the spire itself, the distant pilgrims to the goal of their 
pilgrimage. It is interesting to note that, so far as we 
know, a church bell was never thought of until after 
the coming of the Savior. Other religions used clang- 
ing cymbals, mysterious gongs, or harsh strips of 
metal to summon their people to the rites of religion. 
Christianity wanted something loud enough to sound 
far and clear and yet be full of sweet music like the 
gospelitself,to remind thecountryside,beforeclocksand 
watches were invented, that it was the hour of prayer. 

If you make such a pilgrimage to our house of God, 
long before you come within sight of the gargoyles 
caught in their fruitless attempt at escape, you will 
join other pilgrims bent upon the same mission. One 
of the tenderest memories of the human heart has 
been associated with the common approach to the 
house of worship on the Sabbath Day when the sound 
of the church bells fills the air. In the Book of Psalms 
one reads the first description of that experience given 
by one who, unable to go to church, remained in his 
sick room and longed for the companionship which 
otherwise might have been his. “‘For I had gone with 
the multitude; I went with them to the House of God, 
with the voice of joy and praise, with the multitude 
that kept holyday,” and one remembers the beautiful 
words of Coleridge, | 

Oh, sweeter than the marriage feast, 
It is sweeter far to me, 


To walk together to the kirk, 
With a goodly company. [51] 





A PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF MAIN AISLE AND THE NAVE 


Peak BU BLD IN DG 


These things remind us that Christianity started in 
the walks made by the Master with his Disciples in 
‘the open air of Galilee. And when one enters the 
church one is again reminded of this origin of our re- 
ligion. The interior of the Gothic church is evidently 
modeled upon the place in which the Christians of 
northern climes met to worship. The colder climate 
made it impossible for them to gather in the open, 
by the sea or in the fields, as they did in Galilee, so 
they met in the shelter of a glade in the woods. The 
design of the nave of a Gothic church is reminiscent of 
that ancient sanctuary. The pillars are the trunks of 
the sacred trees. At either side in the groined roof 
one sees remembrances of the branches meeting over- 
head, and in the windows of stained glass the glint of 
blue recalls the sky at either end, while sometimes in 
the glorious windows of the thirteenth century one 
sees all the golden colors of sunrise and sunset. 

The church centers upon the altar, on which is 
placed the cross, symbolic of the faith. The audito- 
rium is not a lecture hall with a platform for the 
speaker; it is not a concert hall built around an organ 
or a choir of singers. It is a house of prayer centering 
upon the altar behind which shine the words, “An 
Everlasting Covenant.” For it is the purpose of this 
building that in it human beings may meet and com- 
mune with an invisible presence. The minister and 
choir are so placed that they do not face the congrega- 
tion during prayer and singing. The minister does 
not pray to you; the choir does not sing to you; 
they pray and sing for you, to help and inspire you to 
express your own devotion and aspiration. Therefore 
they do not face towards the seated people, but sit 
sideways, themselves part of the worshipping congre- 
gation. The central altar, the psalms, and the prayers 
suggest that you come in here not to hear something, 
but to do something yourself — to pray. 


[53] 





THE PULPIT, CHANCEL ORGAN, AND A SEGMENT VIEW OF THE 
PHILLIPS WINDOW 


THE BUILDING 


On the floor of the church are to be found the pews. 
A pew is an ancient method of symbolizing that the 
unit of true religion is not the individual, but the 
family, so our fathers had family pews where father, 
mother, and children could sit together. There were 
elements of exclusiveness and constraint in this 
method, but still the pew remains as a sign that in the 
family the spirit of religion has its roots; it divides the 
crowd into smaller groups in the interest of friendli- 
ness. 

There are eight steps up the chancel to the altar. 
These represent the six days of creation, ending in the 
long rest on the Sabbath, when the old world was fin- 
ished. The eighth step leads behind the chancel rail 
into the New World — the Kingdom of God. 

Carved upon the choir stalls and the deacons’ seats, 
you find Christ’s friends around Him, the Twelve 
Apostles. The congregation in the Middle Ages could 
not read; and so the church itself was made, by carv- 
ings and paintings and stained glass, to be for them a 
kind of pictorial Bible. 

Let us go around the carved stalls beginning at 
the right as you approach the chancel. Each of the 
Apostles bears a symbol, often representing the in- 
strument with which he suffered martyrdom for the 
love of Christ. First is St. Andrew with St. Andrew’s 
cross on which he was crucified. Then comes St. 
Matthew with a hatchet by which he was beheaded. 
He also bears a book, because he wrote one of the 
books in the Bible. Similarly, St. James, the next in 
order, bears his book and the fuller’s club with which 
his brains were dashed out by the heathen. St. Philip 
and St. James, next in order, bear the staff of the pil- 
grim. St. James also bears a shell. This was the early 
sign of the missionary — just why it is hard to dis- 
cover. Some think it was because the early mission- 
aries used shells from which to drink at the brooks as 


[55] 





THE BAPTISMAL FONT, A GIFT OF THE CHURCH SCHOOL, IN MEMORY 
OF MISS S. MARIA CLARKE 


Meee aoe By Uo, Ly DD ToNuG 


they passed on their journeys; others believe that the 
shell was the symbol of the traveller when he wan- 
dered amid inland people who had never seen the sea 
and wondered at this shell which had been picked up 
by him on his distant journeyings. Next in order is 
St. Peter, bearing the keys of Death and Hell, deliv- 
ered to him by the Master. On the opposite side in 
the same way St. Simon bears the saw with which he 
was sawn asunder, and St. Thomas the lance which 
pierced him. St. Jude, besides his book, bears a 
knotted club, and St. Bartholomew a knife. St. 
Matthias, who occupies Judas’s place, has a battle axe. 
And last, nearest the altar, is the beloved St. John, 
holding a chalice from which a serpent is escaping. 
The priest of Diana is said to have given him poisoned 
wine to drink, but St. John made the sign of the cross 
above the chalice and the poison escaped in the shape 
of a serpent. 

Above the altar there shines a light upon the cross 
as though coming down mysteriously from heaven, 
and so the invisible Christ upon the altar stands amid 
his earthly friends. 

The pulpit in the church is distinct from the lectern 
because the lectern contains the Bible, the history of 
God’s revelation to the world, while in the pulpit one 
has man’s interpretation. Above the pulpit is the 
symbol of the Ten Commandments of God, the moral 
center of the Old Testament. The carvings on the 
pulpit represent the vine and its branches, symbolic of 
Christ’s relation to believers, and on each panel there 
is an angel portraying one of the true graces of the real 
preacher: the Angel of Justice with the scales (Job 
31: 6); the Angel of True Eloquence with the burning 
coals of fire from God’s altar (Isaiah 61:6); the Angel 
of Sacred Learning with the Book (Psalm 1: 2); the 
Children’s Angel with little faces clustered around his 
robes (Matthew 18: 10). 


yi 


MOGNIM LSAUM FHL UNV ‘XNOOIVE SAAVN AHL JO UVAU AHL AO MAIA V 











THE BUILDING 


The newel posts, as has been noted in the section 
describing the memorial gifts, represent Thomas 
Hooker, the most noted preacher of early Congrega- 
tionalism, who in 1633 was ordained pastor of the 
church at Newtown, Massachusetts, and John Eliot, 
who in the same city of Newton was the great mis- 
sionary preacher to the Indians. 

The lectern has four figures carved upon it, repre- 
senting the four Evangelists. Beneath one of the fig- 
ures is aman. This is St. Matthew, who, in his gospel, 
dwells especially upon the human Jesus and begins the 
book with the pedigree of His human ancestors. Be- 
neath another figure is the lion, because St. Mark 
opens his gospel with the voice of one crying in the 
wilderness. Beneath the third is the ox, because St. 
Luke opens his gospel with the picture of the shep- 
herds and the manger, and beneath the fourth figure 
is the eagle, because St. John begins with a flight far 
off into the heaven of heavens, soaring like the eagle, 
with the words, “‘In the beginning was the word.”’ 

At the door of a church there should always stand a 
font. The baby should grow up inside the church, not 
outside of it and so in infancy the child is brought to 
the door of the church and received into the arms of 
the Master. Around the font are figures of a child 
which give us the whole of a child’s day — morning, 
when awakened by the song of the bird, daily bread 
with its little porringer at breakfast, then play, and 
work, and prayer, and finally good-night. Beneath 
the figures of the child are all the symbols one could 
find in the Bible of the mothering love of God. 

Beside the font stands the font registry in which are 
preserved the names of the newly born, guarded by 
two kneeling angels, God’s love and care. 

We cross the front of the church again, looking as 
we pass at the altar made of Caen stone. At one side 
of it is the figure of St. George of England who has the 


[59] 





THE PULPIT, ORGAN, AND THE OAK TABLET SYMBOLIZING THE 
COMMANDMENTS 








eto Uv DT NEG 


sword in his hand with which he has just slain the 
great dragon of sin. He represents all the riches which 
England has given to our common faith. On the other 
side stands St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of 
France. In his left hand is the garment and in his 
right hand the sword with which he is dividing his 
cloak to give half to a poor widow perishing in the 
cold. The two saints stand for the valor and charity 
of our faith. Around the altar one finds the carving of 
the fish, which was an early symbol of Christianity 
because the Greek word for fish consisted of the first 
letters in the words, “Jesus Christ, Savior of Man- 
kind”’, and the ark, symbol of the Christian way to 
salvation. We in our Pilgrim church may also see 
there the Mayflower crossing the broad Atlantic for 
the New World. As we go across the front of the 
church we come to the Fuller Chapel, designed for 
smaller services, weddings, funerals, and corporate 
communion celebrations. It is a part of the church, 
yet a little service held in it is not lost as it would be 
were it held in the larger building. 


[61] 


TadVHO UATTNA AHL NI VUAVTIAGNVO GNV ‘F1qVL NOINQWWOO ‘MOCUNIM 3HL 





MEMORIAL AND PRESENTATION GIFTS 


MEMORIAL AND PRESENTA- 
TION GIFTS 


i Rice pulpit, carved by Mr. J. Kirchmayer of 
Oberammergau and Cambridge, is in memory of 
the Rev. Henry J. Patrick, D.D., minister of the 
church from 1860 to 1893, presented by his family and 
a number of his former parishioners. In addition to 
the symbolism of the vine, the four great guardian 
angels of true preaching occupy the four panels. 
The newel posts represent Thomas Hooker, the most 
noted preacher of early Congregationalism, who in 
1633 was ordained pastor of the church at Newton, 
Massachusetts, and John Eliot, who, in the same city 
of Newtown, was the great missionary preacher to the 
Indians. 

The lectern and the chancel furniture (also the 
work of Mr. Kirchmayer) are in memory of the Rev. 
Theodore P. Prudden, D.D., minister of the church 
from 1894 to 1907. Surrounding the lectern are the 
figures of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 
and John. Upon the choir and deacons’ stalls are the 
figures of the twelve apostles. The lectern and the 
Bible are the gift of Dr. Prudden’s family; the 
chancel furniture of friends in the parish. 

The communion table in memory of Captain S. 
Edward Howard, presented by his family and a 
friend, is constructed of Caen stone. The motive of 
the vine and the branches runs around the table. At 
one side stands St. George, the representative of the 
Christian soldier, and at the other St. Martin of 
Tours, the type of Christian chivalry, in the act of 
dividing his cloak with his sword that he may share 


[ 63 ] 





A DETAIL FROM THE WINDOW OF THE FULLER CHAPEL 


MEM OR LAL AN D:PRESENTATILVON GIF TS 


it with the beggar. At the side the words “‘He always 
faced the dawn” remind us of Captain Howard’s 
personality. 

The altar Bibles are in memory of Mr. Benjamin S. 
Palmer. 

The chancel organ is the gift of the late Mr. Frank 
Ashley Day, in memory of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
Robert Lansing Day, who attended this church in 
1860-1862. The echo organ at the rear of the church 
is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Gross. The 
chapel organ is the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Henry B. 
Day. The organ chimes, added in 1925, are in mem- 
ory of William Alvin Barker, organist in 1872, the gift 
of Orrin F. and George J. Barker. All these organs are 
the work of Casavant Fréres of St. Hyacinth, Canada. 
_ The east window “in affectionate honor of all 
Mothers” is the gift of many friends and was dedi- 
cated on May g, 1926. It is the work of Reynolds, 
Francis, and Rohnstock of Boston. 

The window in the chapel is in memory of Mrs. 
J. Franklin Fuller, presented by her husband; and 
the communion table and candelabra in the same 
chapel are the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton L. Eddy. 
At the extreme left of the window is the Angel of the 
Annunciation bringing the news of the coming of the 
Lord to the Virgin. At the right is the Angel of Con- 
solation comforting the Mater Dolorosa with thoughts 
of the Resurrection. The window in the north tran- 
sept is the gift of Mr. Charles G. Phillips, in mem- 
ory of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Phillips. 
The window, the motive of which is the beatitude, 
“Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be com- 
forted,’’ represents a saint, surrounded bya multitude 
of the angels of the spiritual world, comforting the 
widow and children in their affliction. Both these 

windows and the temporary west window are the 


work of Mr. Henry Wynd Young of New York. The 


[65] 





THE BAPTISMAL FONT AND THE FONT REGISTRY IN THE SOUTH 
TRANSEPT 


MeEeORDAL AND PRESEN TATION <-GIU-F T'S 


temporary aisle windows are the work of Mr. Charles J. 
Connick of Boston. 

The baptismal font, in memory of Miss S. Maria 
Clarke who was head of the Primary Department of 
the church school for nearly fifty years, was dedi- 
cated June 13, 1920, the gift of the children of the 
parish. The font registry for preserving the names 
of the baptized children was added November 22, 
1925. The font was the work of Miss B. Lillian Link; 
the registry was made by W. F. Ross and Co. 

The furniture of the minister’s room is the gift of 
Mr. and Mrs. William C. Safford. 

The clocks in the church are all the gifts of Mr. 
Herbert E. Fales. 

The flags in the church are the gift of Mr. Herbert 
M. Cole (except the one in the chapel which was pre- 
sented in memory of Roger N. Griffin, 1894-1910); 
and the stone gargoyles at the doors of the church are 
the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Gibson. In addi- 
tion to these, many of the members of our parish have 
given their personal time, skill, and service to make 
the building and the grounds what they are. Every- 
one has had a generous part in this church which has 
in very truth been built by all the people. 

The architects of the church were Messrs. Allen and 
Collens of Boston, and the builders were Norcross 
Bros. of Worcester. 


[ 67 | 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


The idea of our Mothers’ Window is an 
evolution from the older custom which 
honored by specific tribute the memory of 
a single person —a memorial that only 
individual or family wealth could grant. 
Our chancel window is a tribute to all 
mothers —mothers who are gone, mothers 
who are with us still, and mothers who are 
yet to be. We bow in reverence before this 
general, all-embracing idea of Mother- 
hood; but in the very act, the faces that 
are dearest come to view and individual- 
ize for each of us the spirit of our devotion. 


[ 68 | 


THE MOTHERS’ WINDOW 


THE MOTHERS’ WINDOW 


As the morning star in the midst of a cloud, 

As the moon at the full; 

As the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High, 

As the rainbow giving light in the clouds of glory; 

As the flower of roses in the early morn, 

As lilies at the waterspring, 

As the shoot of the frankincense tree in the time of summer; 

As fire and incense in the censer, 

As a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all manner of pre- 

cious stones, 

As a fair olive tree budding forth new fruits, 

As a cypress growing high among the clouds, 

When she put on the robe of honor, 

She was clothed with the perfection of glory. 
Ecclesiasticus 50 : 6-11 


OUR window is dedicated ‘“‘To the Glory of God 
and in affectionate honor of all Mothers.” It is 
mother love which has warmed the cold heart of 
nature. When the age of the great brutal reptiles was 
over and their successors in the world began to nurse 
and fondle and love their young, then began all the 
tenderness and poetry and color of life. This window 
is in affectionate honor of all mothers — the hen that 
gathers her chickens under her wing, the mare that 
licks her ungainly long-legged foal with whinnying, 
anxious solicitude, the tigress that fights to the death 
to protect the little balls of fur whose frightened eyes 
glow green from the depths of the dark cave within, 
the mother whom the world calls bad, who yet had in 
her warped nature an unsuspected heaven of tender- 
ness for her little one, the mother who was saint and 
friend and guardian angel for her wayward children, 
the mothers who throng the steeps of light in the 
better country and look down upon us now unseen, the 
mothers we disobey and argue with and love today, 


[ 69 | 


THESE COND CAD RCA OOr 


the mothers yet unborn whose faces will be lit by the 
glory of this window as the old, old story of human 
love blossoms anew in their young lives — to all 
mothers. This window is like the jewelled robe our 
ancestors used to give for the image of the Virgin in 
their churches. The windows at Chartres are lovely 
today because the soft wings of the years have been 
brushing them now for so long that a film has eaten its 
way into the glass, softening and making the colors 
less glaring and more mysterious every year. So may 
it be with this new window! Its design was thought 
ty with much care. Everything in it speaks of Mother- 
ood. 

In the early days, many of those who went to church 
could not read, so the story of the gospel was told to 
their eyes by painting and carving and stained glass 
filled with the feeling of the good news. So is it with 
this window. Everything in it means something. 

The body of a child comes through its long line of 
ancestors with impulses and tendencies good and evil 
mixed, but in every child there is that mysterious 
unique something which comes from God. In the 
quatrefoil at the very centre of the window at the top, 
you see the dove of the Holy Spirit descending to 
earth from Heaven with the soul to be born on earth. 
Surrounding it are the angels of heaven as a guard of 
honor, angels whose heads are flames of fire and who 
bear their names on shields before them. They are the 
angels of the Madonna and bear the flower for purity, 
the fleur-de-lis associated for centuries with the motto 
“Tchdien” — “I serve’’; the crown for honor and the 
- star for mystery. 

But there is the other, the earthly origin of the child, 
and in the central medallion of the left vertical row 
you see Eve, the mother of all living, with her foot 
upon the head of the serpent. The first prophecy of 
Christ in the Old Testament is that verse in Genesis 


[70 ] 


THE MOTHERS WINDOW 


which: tells that Eve through her great descendant, 
Jesus Christ, shall bruise the head of the great serpent 
of sin in the world. The child in part is the very Holy 
Spirit of God from heaven and in part this human 
nature of ours which is ever struggling against the 
sinful impulses of the flesh, but with certainty of vic- 
tory, for her foot is upon its head. 

The large central medallion is the Virgin with the 
Holy Child in her arms against a background of glory. 
The whole design refers to her as the supreme example 
of a mother’s expectant Joy, tragedy, and triumph. 

On the immediate left-hand side of the large central 
medallion you see the shepherds adoring the Babe. 
Mary sits proudly with the child in her lap, while the 
star shines above her head. Peeping out from under 
the folds of the garment of one of the shepherds is the 
head of a lamb which the shepherd has rescued from 
the cold and danger of the night and is keeping safe 
and warm. 

On the right of the central medallion the wise men, 
kings of the Orient, present their gifts and are just 
kneeling down before the Mother and her Babe. 
Above the shepherds is the moon, queen of the even- 
ing skies; above the wise men in the circular medal- 
lion, Christ’s lovely picture of mother love — the hen 
with her brood of chickens. There are many animals 
in the window, doves, hen and chickens, lambs, a 
donkey, and even the naughty snake. 

Just below the large central medallion you find the 
scan of the Nativity — Mary and Joseph and the 
child. 

Now when Mary expected to be a mother Heaven 
and Earth both united in loving her and congratulat- 
ing her. 

In the center horizontal row, the second medallion 
from the left, is the Annunciation — an angel from 
heaven, pointing upward, with a scroll upon which are 


me 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


the words, “Hail, Mary, full of Grace.” Mary’s Bible 
from which she found the words of her song is in her 
hand. The second medallion from the right in the 
same horizontal row shows the congratulations from 
earth in the visit of Elisabeth, who has her arm around 
Mary’s neck. There are two scenes from the child- 
hood of Jesus with His mother. In the lowest hort- 
zontal row the medallion to the extreme left shows the 
Holy Family on their way to Jerusalem for the feast, 
Mary on the ass, Joseph with his bundle of baggage on 
the end of a staff over his shoulders, and Jesus, hand 
in hand with his mother, trudging on beside her. It 1s 
His first trip into the wide, wide world, away from the 
home seclusion seen in the second medallion from the 
left in the lower row where Jesus in the workshop of 
Nazareth is holding a plank for Joseph to saw, while 
Mary with her distaff sits by spinning and looks with 
love upon her two men. How Jesus lived out his 
mother’s heart and acted in her spirit of tenderness 
is shown in three medallions. In the lower row, the 
second from the right, the picture shows His pity for 
the widow of Nain, as he raises her son to life again. 
The extreme right medallion in the same row shows 
Him blessing little children while the mother of the 
children beams behind. One child is on His knee while 
the other little one has plucked a flower and is bring- 
ing it to the Savior. Just above this medallion the 
Good Shepherd is seen with the lost lamb now found 
and safely on his shoulders, emblems of the mother 
love of Jesus for the lost and wayward. A mother 
often seems to love the most troublesome child. 

The central panel in the lower row shows the scene 
at the cross where Jesus bids an earthly farewell to 
His distracted mother, commending her to the care of 
His beloved disciple: “Son, thy mother; Mother, thy 
son. 

The cross is green, for its wood is living forever and 


[72] 


THE MOTHERS WINDOW 


growing for the life of the nations; and John bears an 
instrument of music in his hand, for his gospel has 
sung the glory of the cross to all people. 

The last two medallions — those in the extreme 
left and right of the top row — show two scenes in 
heaven. On the left Mary is arriving in heaven and 
Jesus is crowning her as she bends her head. On the 
right sits the Virgin, Queen of Heaven, enthroned 
with the Everlasting Child in her arms, while on her 
shoulder gleams the star —her suffering past, she 
shall glow in heaven like the stars, forever and ever. 

Every side of a mother’s life is here — the bearing 
of children, household work, anxious days, pride in 
her son’s honors, joy in her son’s success and char- 
acter, neighbors’ calls, heavenly visitations of joy, 
ambition for her son, tender friendship with him, 
tragedy unspeakable in his loss — all are here — and 
twice the veil is lifted and the Unseen is sighted but 
for an instant in the rapturous greeting upon that 
farther shore and the eternal honor which is hers unto 
the world’s end. Here for all time are set to gleam the 
colors of the precious stones, to touch all hearts in 
tender gratitude for the love that makes our home of 
life so pleasant and is a foretaste of joys beyond, that 
shall exceed all that we can desire. 

The long list of names, remembered by the contri- 
butions to the fund for the memorial window, reveals 
the keen and loving interest which our members have 
taken in this significant tribute to motherhood. 


[73 ] 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


OUR MOTHERS’ NAMES 


CornELIA A. ABBOTT 

- SaraH J. ABBOTT 

LovisE SHELDON ADAMS 
Mary MarceLitA ADAMS 
Auice RicHArpDs ALLEN 
Eve.tyn Farco ALLEN 
ANNIE ALLINGHAM 

Mary FrANcES ATHERTON 


HetLen Pratr Bacon 
Hexen Moore BAILEY 
LAURETTE JoB BARBER 
CAROLINE JENISON BARKER 
Emma Frances BARRETT 
Eva Lain BARTHOLOMEW 
Miranpa D. BARTHOLOMEW 
Emity BARTINGTON 

Jane Vicroria BARTINGTON 
Eutia E. Barton 
FLORENCE RuWE BARTON 
HE EN P. BaTEs 

Mary Frances BATES 
Eten L. Batson 

ETHEL G. Batson 
TueoposiA |. BATSTONE 
AxicE Guy BEAN 

Mary Ann BEAN 
GERTRUDE BECKER 
ELizABETH RoBeERTS BELL 
Mary H. G. BELL 

Bessie W. BENSON 

Ipa C. BENSON 

Mary ANNA BENSON 
Ne.ire McLeop BLAIR 
CaRRIE GouLpD BLAKE 
Epona S. BLuNT 

Lucy CATHERINE BOLSTER 
SARAH JANE BoLsTER 
SaraH BonpD 


[74] 


AppiE Ex1iza BosworTH 

Dianna Day BosworTH 

MarGARET ELIZABETH 
BosworTH 

Mary A. ForsyTHE BowEN 

NELLIE CRANDELL BOWEN 

ELizABETH Noves BRAMAN 

Watty V. BRANDT 

CarriE M. BrigHAM 

Mary Brison 

Dorothy ELLEN Broprick 

Maup H. Broprick 

Maup Hoxie Brown 

SARAH FRANCES BUNKER 

AticE BURNELL 

Marcretra Goop BuRNELL 

Harriet C. BuRNETT 

Annie McKissock BurR 

Emma JEFFERSON BurRTT 

Rusy CuiarreE BUSWELL 


ELIzABETH A. CAMPBELL 

HELEN Orr CAMPBELL 

BERTHA CAPODANNO 

MarGArRET ‘A. CARLEY 

ELizABETH W. CARLYLE 

M. JoseTtre BALLARD 
CARPENTER 

Mary J. CARTER 

LILLIAN BowEN CATE 

Lots R. Cate 

MaupeE VIRGINIA CHALMERS 

Mary Paine CHAMBERLAIN 

Epna Emerson CHASE 

Lina A. CHASE 

Maupbe WILLISTON CHASE 

AnniE M. CHESLEY 

Epirs H. Cuurcu 

Auice M. CarPENTER CLARK 


OUR MOTHERS NAMES 


EvizABETH WHEELER CLARK 

Harriet Appotr CLarK 

Lyp14a Burt CLark 

Mary O.Lney CLarK 

Mary E,Lten WALLACE 
CLOUGH 

Mary Coe 

Dorotuy ELIzABETH COLE 

Maria Hart Cote 

VENILA SPAULDING COLSON 

HeEten Frances Cook 

Mary Evita Bowes Cook 

Mary Hatui FLANDERS Cook 

SARAH ANN DILLINGHAM Cook 

Jane BELL Cooper 

MartHa DEMAREE COPELAND 

Otive S. B. Cram 

Mary ELizABETH CRANDELL 

AucusTA REBECCA CROSBY 

Bessige V. A. Crossy 

GRACE GREENE CROSBY 

Jane Crump 

Jane CUNNINGHAM 

Mary A. Curtis 

Exiza A. CUSHMAN 

EmiLty FrENcH CUTLER 


Hopte S. DALE 

Jennie Murieu Dates 
Luiu Bertua DALES 
Mary Porter DANIELL 
Evuen M. DanieE.s 
ELFREDA BorpDEN DARLING 
Mituicent M. Darracu 
Betry Miiis Davison 
Mary Graves Davison 
MiILprRED JonEs Davison 
Juiia STEVENS Day 
KATHARINE Munroe Day 
Mary Ann. Gopparp Day 
Grace P. DELANO 

Mary Perkins DENISON 


Muropina A. DEWIRE 
Exiza DEWoLF 


Lavina WentTwortu D1x 
Mary A. Dort 

Auice Wuitney Downs 
Amy W. Downs 

Fanny Reep DowsE 
Bonney L. DunBAR 
Harriet Watton DUNBAR 


ANN Eviza Eacer 

RutH HELEN MacurpDA EAGER 
Assy ALLEN Eaton 

BerTHA CLARK Eppy 
GEORGIANNA WINSLOow Eppy 
LovisE THORNDIKE Eppy 
EvELYN ELDRIDGE 

HELEN ELDRIDGE 

ETHEL JOSEPHINE ELLIOTT 
Mary J. Evuiotr 

NataLie M. ELwetu 
Martua T. BARBER EMERSON 
OLIVE EMERSON 

HELEN Avucusta Estes 


Nettie L. FAtEs 

Jennie A. FARNHAM 

FLtora BaiteEy FAaRNUM 

NicoLena M. FENNEBERG 

Louisa E. FERREICA 

Emma Brown Harr 
FESSENDEN 

SusAn LANE FESSENDEN 

Grace E. Marsu FIscHer 

Nancy TApPAN FISHER 

Atma FursusH FLAHERTY 

ABBIE O. FLEMING 

Ann Victoria FoLsom 

FLora Forss 

Jane E. Francis 

VicToriA FRANCIS 

GERTRUDE KISTLER 
FREDERICKS 

Juuia P. Frencu 

Beruia T. L. Frost 

SARAH E. Frost 


[75] 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


Giapys CHANDLER FULLER 
Mary Ewine FuLLER 
RutH BroDHEAD FULLER 
MABEL FULTON 
Maria L. FursBisH 
GERTRUDE SANDERSON 
FuRBUSH | 
JENNIE Ricuarps FursBuUsH 


HELEN WoopBRIDGE GANSE 

Exiza ALIicE GARDNER 

EpitH S. GARRISON 

SaRAH Dornan GAW 

NANCIE KILLMAN GERRITY 

LIBERATA GIANFERANTE 

Mary GriIpDLey GIBBS 

Susan E.izABETH GIBBS 

ELIZABETH STEWART GIBSON 

HELEN KNow.tton GIBSON 

Marian B. Gisson 

Emma Coss GILE 

CasstE May GILLARD 

Grace ATwoop GLAZIER 

HELEN SopHIA GLAZIER 

Acnes Prescotr HALE 
GLIDDEN 

CarRIE J. GLOVER 

Harriet Harrer GODDARD 

MartTHa BREWER GODDARD 

Jennie A. GODFREY 

E.izABETH G. Goop 

Emma Harriet GORDON 

GLapys GouGH 

Jessie J. GRANT 

Emma BRAITHWAITE GRAVES 

Exiia Witson GREENE 

Mary A. E. GREENLEAF 

Susan CROWELL GREGG 

CynTu1a HAvEN Gross 

Mase t B. Gross 

Mary B. P. Gross 

EmILIE GROSSMANN 

Jennie L. GrusuH 

CANDORA SEELEY GUERNSEY 

GRACE RAE GUIRY 


[ 76 | 


SARAH SHERMAN HAIGHT 

Ipa Frorina ACKERMAN HALL 

FRANCES HAMANT 

A. EL1izABETH HAMMOND 

BertHa Hunt HamMMonpD 

Mary HAanion 

MatitpA KNow.ton Harpy 

ELizABETH Price Harris 

ALMIRA MARSHALL Hart | 

LovisE SANDERSON HART 

AMELIA M. HartTer 

Weattuy A. Harvey 

JANE EvizaBETH HASKELL 

ELIzABETH Parsons HatcH 

HE En N. Hatcu 

HELEN Preston HauGHWOUT 

Acnes HaypDEN 

Exixia Oat HInMAN 

BELLE Dixon HopDGMAN 

ANNIE Hope 

LovisrE TuLLock Hopkins 

MatTitpA TAayLor HopxKINSON 

Mary JANE HoucHTon 

HELEN Marsyu Howarp 

Emma Jupp Hoyt 

Mase. Avis Hoyt 

MariA FREEMAN HULL 

Exiza Gerry Hunt 

Mary Susan HUNTER 

Auice Estes HuNTSMAN 

ZERVIAH Fitz RANDOLPH 
HuNTSMAN 

Jane Howes HutTcHInson 

Lucy A. HutcHINSON 


Harriet LESTER Isaac 


Frepa M. JAMES 

FrIEDA PHILLIPS JAMES 
Eva RacHEL JENKINS 
FLORENCE Cary JENKINS 
AcneEs L, JEPSEN 

Ese Ess—ENn JEPSEN 
SELMA E.. JOHNSON 


OUR MOTHERS’ NAMES 


Emity JONES 
HeEven Dinc.ey Jones 


LisetreE KAatTrwiInNKEL 

Rosa E. KatrwinkEL 

Assy A. KEENE 

CAROLINE S. KELLAR 

Ciara Maup KELLAR 

Mary Ann KELLAR 

Fannie E. KEMBALL 

SARAH ELIZABETH KENT 

Hortense Kino 

Emity Ham KincMAn 

ELLen THompson KINGSBURY 

HENRIETTA KISTLER 

Mary EvizaABetH KNEELAND 

Mary Bennitr KNIBLOE 

Matitpa Hircucock 
KNOWLTON 


EvizABetu W. Lapp 

Fannie A. LaForce 

Jane LaMonp 

Mary DeWotr LaMonp 

SarAH K. Larcom 

Epna A. LARNED 

Mary T. Lester 

Grace R. LIBBEY 

Resecca M. LInneELi 

Exinora Waitt Lovejoy 

GERTRUDE TROWBRIDGE 
LovELL 

THERESA A. LyMAn 


Mary A. Macpona.p 

HarriEtTTE Foircer Mac- 
GREGOR 

MarGARET PowErR MacGuire 

Grace CLARK MacoMBER 

Marion MEEK Locan Mann 

Extia E. Mason 

Mary EizABetH Mason 

Frora BELLE McCauLpER 

Bertua B. McGarey 


MartTuHa JANE McGarey 
Florence McCutTcuHEeon 
McKee 
Ottve A. McLENNAN 
Lucy Lester MILNER 
Vittoria D. MiIncAcE 
MATTIE JOSEPHINE Morcan 
Lucy JeEnnincs Morse 
Assy S. Morton 
Mary A. Moutton 
KATHERINE MUIRHEAD 


Luu Hunt NEssitr 

Lipa P. NEwHALL 

A.icE NewrTon 

Anna H. Newron 

Kate Morton NICKERSON 
Exviza Erra NopEN 

Jutta GLaziER NoDEN 
Rancuitp M. Norpstrom 
CAROLINE P. Nowers 

Ipa J. Nowrers 


Fannie Patron Ott 
Marita HopcMan Orr 
Lyp1a DExTER OWEN 


Mase. C. Pace 

Persis A. PAGE 
CHARLOTTE MANN PAINE 
Harriet GoutD PAINE 
MARGUERITE TAYLOR PAINE 
Mary Woo.son PAINE 
Vio.a C. PAIne 

Marion C. PALMER 

Grace Burtr PAarK 

Susan Epcar PARK 

ALICE Paine Pau. 

May PERKINS 

Dorotuy L. PERRY 

Mary S. Perry 

HE LEN R. PETERS 

Mary F. Puister 

Lovu1sE Fow.Ler PICKHARDT 


[77] 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 


KATHERINE PETERSON 
PoLLocK 
ETHEL VARS PoTTER 
LILLIAN WARNER POTTER 
Evia WINIFRED PRATT 
Eien EvizABETH PLIMPTON 
PRATT 
ELIzABETH PRICE 
CHARLOTTE Hart PRIDE 
MarGArReET Butt PRUDDEN 
FLORENCE J. PUTNAM 
HELEN Preston HAauGHWOUT 
PuTNAM 


Heten Morton RAE 
Emma EvizABETH RAMEE 
SARAH ELIzABETH RAMEE 
SaraH MatTitpa Ray 
Eta S. RAyLe 

NELLIE BENson RAYMOND 
Noant Francis RayMonpD 
CarriE GRAVES REED 
Mary J. REED 

Iretra Hicut REetTAn 
Resecca G. REYNOLDS 
Apple S. RIcr 

Maupbe E. RicE 
CAROLINE WILLSON RICHARDS 
CarRRIE FE. RicHARDSON 
Lucy HELEN RIPLEY 
Ann RosBINsON 

OsiLpA V. RoBINSON 
ErHe. M. RocGeErs 

Lucia RoHNSTOCK 

Errie Rounps 

Marion AGNES RUSSELL 
CLEMENTINE U. RuweE 


Eunice CARTER SAFFORD 
Lucy MeETcatFr SANDERS 
ELIZABETH CUTLERSANDERSON 
Oxive JANE SANDERSON 
Lucy T. SANGER 


[78 ] 


ANNIE A. SARGENT 
Maria J. SARGENT 
Eruet N. ScARBOROUGH 
CHARLOTTE C. SEAVER 
Mary EstTELLE SEAVER 
Lyp1A CLARK SHEDD 
Mary A. SHELDON 
Mary Evia SHURBERT 
Ciara J. SMITH 
ELIzABETH J. SMITH 
Marion C. SMITH 
Mary Lewis SMITH 
Mary E Lia SNELL 
Harriet P. Snow 
SaRAH BARTON SNOW 
SoOPHRONIA SOULE 
CaROLINE E.. SoUTHARD 
Lucy A. SpuRR 
EvELYN STAFFORD 
Eva GILLAID STEARNS 
Mary BaLpwin STEARNS 
BerTHA BLANCHE STEELE 
Lucy PHEeBpE WHEELER 
STEVENS 
SIBELLA KirRK STIMETS 
SARAH JANE SYMONDS 


CHRISTINE [ANGE 

Mary BRADFORD TAYLOR 

Maupbe ExizABETH TAYLOR | 

Rose TAYLOR 

Auice May CHANEY THOMAS 

CAROLINE SWAIN THOMAS 

CHARLOTTE [THORNTON 
THOMAS 

FLORENCE CoPELAND THOMAS 

SARAH JANE THOMAS 

ApvELIA M. THOMPSON 

Emma H. THompson 

Annie Martin THORNTON 

AticE RACHEL TOoMBS 

ELIzABETH ANN TOWNLEY 

ApDELIA J. TROWBRIDGE 

Susan W. TROWBRIDGE 


OUR MOTHERS’ NAMES 


JosEPHINE Oat UNDERWOOD 


IsaABEL GUILBERT WALES 
Lyp14a A. WALES 

Harriet M. WarREN 

CiarA BELLE WEAVER 
AGNES SmitH WEBSTER 
Avucusta J. WEBSTER 
CurISTINE McLeop WEBSTER 
MaAyFLoweER Lyman WEBSTER 
Marion W. WELLS 
HENRIETTA Harrison WEST 
ELIzABETH Lorinc WESTON 
ELten May WHEELOCK 

Amy E. Wuirtinc 


MarGARET WEBSTER WHITING 

SARAH LEARNED WHITMORE 

LAURINDA Co.Liins WHITNEY 

Mary Bonp Wuiton 

Juiia W. WILDER 

FLtora Harvey WILSON 

Marion N. WItson 

Mary E. Winc 

Gunpa H. Wirric 

Rutu A. Wo.LLeEY 

ELizABETH K. Woop 

Lucy M. Woop 

IsABELLA Larcom Woop- 
BERRY 

SaraH Metcatr WyMANn 


[79] 





THE FRONT ENTRANCE WITH THE MASSIVE OAK DOORS 








DH EVS:h Riv 1D C.E 


THE SERVICE 


Ae you approach this church, you find everything 
designed to produce the worshipful effect. You 
enter, kneel for a moment and offer prayer alone with 
God. In the distance the organist is playing softly, 
giving you a chance to close out the outside world — 
to listen, and to think. If you ask God to speak to 
you and wait for His voice, the still small voice answers 
in your heart as you sit or kneel in quiet. In a mo- 
ment from the distance you hear the sound of voices 
singing without the doors of the sanctuary. Slowly 
those doors are opened, the voices come nearer and 
nearer, just as God’s voice comes if you give Him a 
chance to speak to you. You rise and sing yourself, 
knowing that if you can join your own voice with the 
congregation’s you are no longer a spectator, but a 
part of God and his people, and will find both body 
and spirit renewed. So the choir passes up the aisle. 
They are vested in black cassocks covered with white 
cottas, a symbol of the white forgiveness over black 
sin and also a way of making the service of the church 
democratic so that rich and poor are dressed alike. 
The minister is vested either in a surplice or a black 
gown. The black gown was used in ancient times to 
show the scholar, the man who devoted his life to 
learning about God and sacred things, and it is worn 
today to remind the minister to speak not his own 
words and fancies, but God’s eternal truth as he can 
find it. The “Amen” to the hymn is sung by the 
people. 

In every land there is a call to worship, as, for 
instance, in Mohammedan countries a cry rings out 
above the market places from the tall towers in the 
temples. So in this church, the minister calls the 


[81] 





THE CHANCEL CHOIR SINGING THE RECESSIONAL 


DEY SERV Cle 


people to worship with verses from the Scripture full 
of great promises and inspiration. 

There are three historic approaches to the Unseen 
— self-abasement, ritual, and silence. In the general 
confession one finds the first of these methods of ap- 
proach. We abase ourselves before God. He is so 
much purer and nobler and loftier than we that with 
all our righteousness we confess ourselves to be miser- 
able sinners, and this can be sincerely done when we 
compare ourselves, our morbid moods, our fears and 
doubts and selfishness, with the calm serenity and 
charity of the Christ. At the close of the general con- 
fession the minister pronounces absolution. Chris- 
tianity teaches that God does not hold grudges; He 
forgives and forgets and is always willing to give us a 
new start. The minister does not forgive. He tells the 
people God forgives us if we feel sincerely sorry and 
gives us this new start. 

During all this time the ushers have been perform- 
ing the most useful task of keeping the few late comers 
from interrupting the beginning of the service. At 
this point there is an interval when late comers may 
take their places without disturbance. Then come the 
call to the people to praise the Lord, the prayer of the 
minister, ““Oh, Lord, open thou our lips,” the anthem 
in which the choir strives to express for you your in- 
expressible aspirations. 

There is always a hush in the church when the 
Scripture lesson is read. For many today it is the only 
opportunity of the week to hear the Bible, and if the 
people will see with the minister whathe seesashereads, 
the Scripture lesson marks a high point in the service. 

Then come the prayers — the general thanksgiving 
and the national prayer, and all join together in spirit 
in the pastoral prayer which is the incense of the 
Protestant church rising up to the roof of the church 
and through that to the very gate of heaven. 


[ 83 ] 





A TYPICAL GROUP LEAVING THE CHURCH AFTER A SUNDAY SERVICE 





Mika? Sera oy Pol ine Vie ty Gree 


The offering is a part of the service, not an intru- 
sion, and no great human need has been neglected in 
the offerings made in this church on historic occasions 
in the past. 

The sermon consists not of abstruse theology nor 
pious platitudes — but of truths that one can live by. 

The benediction is not an idle gesture; something 
actually happens then — good will passes from God 
through the hands of his minister into the hearts 
of the people. The congregation united in common 
thought and common feeling by the songs and prayers 
and sermon are melted into new unity at the moment 
of the benediction; life seems more worth while, God 
more real, hope more radiant, conscience more keen, 
and good will and blessing are communicated to all. 
The aim of the service is to bring every member of the 
congregation up the seven altar steps in spirit and on 
into the sacred place beyond, where stands the Ever- 
lasting Cross and where glows the light of God’s - 
eternal presence. But even on the Mount of Trans- 
figuration one cannot abide. One must return to life 
again, its tasks and problems, and so the chancel is 
again at the close of the benediction filled with song 
which slowly withdraws down the steps and down the 
aisle and past your pew and fades away with a far 
“Amen” without. Then comes a moment of silent 
prayer as the minister’s voice is heard in the distance 
communing in devotion with the choir. With the final 
“Amen,” we are back to the world again, and, washed 
in God’s love, we turn out to our streets and homes, 
and the light of the candle of the Lord burns in our 
hearts all through the week as this or that event re- 
minds us of the thought or inspiration of the Holy 
Place. 

The people are dismissed and go their ways, and 
when they enter their homes it is as if an invisible 
‘presence entered with them; as though they had with 


[85] 


LIGIHXSY TVIOdadS V YO GAONVUUV “TAdVHO AHL 





DHE Ss EB RVit CoE 


them by the hand, all unseen, one of the little children 
of the font; or as though one of the brave Evangels on 
the choir stalls, the first friends of Jesus, came with 
them ready to help them endure all things with cheer 
and faith; or as if the song of praise that filled the 
House of God continued to fill their home and all its 
rooms with melody; or as if the light above the altar 
shone on their hearth; or perchance as if One greater 
than all, the Master Himself, came into the house with 
them and His mystic presence made all the sands of 
time run golden and all the limitations of this present 
life seem as nothing compared with the promises of the 
future which in very truth pass man’s understanding. 
“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have en- 
tered into the heart of man, the things which God 
hath prepared for them that love Him.” 


[ 87 ] 





A VIEW OF THE CHANCEL, SHOWING THE OLD BLUE WINDOW, THE CROSS, 


AND THE COMMUNION TABLE IN THE CENTER 





HOLY COMMUNION 


HOLY COMMUNION 


By this church the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper 
is observed in two ways. At our early services and 
upon special days the sacrament is dispensed at the 
chancel rail by the minister to the kneeling communi- 
cants. 

The individual comes forward and kneels down and 
receives each for himself and herself the body and 
blood of the Lord. The method used is that of intinc- 
tion. The minister dips the edge of each wafer in the 
wine. The communicant receives this in the hand and 
immediately raises it to the lips, as the minister says 
the words:— “The body and blood of our Lord Jesus 
Christ which was given for thee preserve thy body and 
soul unto everlasting life. Take this in remembrance 
that Christ died for thee, and be thankful.” 

This way of celebration emphasizes the individual’s 
part in the sacrament. Each one has to rise, come up 
the chancel steps and receive individually among the 
kneeling row of communicants at the rail. 

It seems to many to show a greater reverence and to 
be more fitting in its seemliness than any other form. 
For each communion ought to be a new beginning for 
every one who partakes. The value of the rite lies in 
that which transpires in each individual’s mind and 
heart. It is the interior devotion for which the ex- 
terior rite is but an occasion, a suggestion, a frame. 
Here also is felt most deeply the intimate relation be- 
tween minister and member. One who as Christ’s 
servant has been companion and helper through life’s 
bright and dark days, here often gives directly in the 
spirit of deep understanding of the hopes or triumphs, 
of the problems and joys, of the communicant. 

Each communion becomes for the participant an- 


[89] 





THES BrC!Oin- Dy Ci UR Ear O Oak. 


other pearl in the lengthening string of a life’s devo- 
tion. 

A beautiful silver communion service, designed for 
this particular form of administration, was given to 
the church by a friend in 1926. 

On Easter Day at the early service the confirmation 
and first communion of new members is held. | 

Those becoming members of the church kneel at the 
chancel rail. The minister asks each in turn, “‘ Dost 
thou believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?”” The answer 
is, ““I do believe.’”’ After this, baptism from the small 
font by the altar takes place. The minister then places 
his hands on each head in turn and offers up the 
Confirmation prayer: “Defend, O Lord, this thy 
Child by thy heavenly grace; that he may continue 
thine forever; and daily increase in thy Holy Spirit 
more and more, until he come into thy everlasting 
kingdom.” The group kneeling at the rail then re- 
ceive at the hands of the minister the communion. 

Once in every two months during the year, in con- 
nection with morning worship, the communion is held 
in the other form. Here the deacons distribute first the 
bread and then the wine to the communicants seated 
in their pews. This form of celebration seems to many 
to have about it more of the primitive feeling of the 
earliest Christians. It is the festal form, and the hush 
that pervades the whole church as the deacons pass 
among the pews gives a sense of a worshipping con- 
gregation united in common devotion. 

So in our churches, when we have striven to express 
the mystery and greatness of our life by spoken word, 
by cathedral, and by song, when picture and poem 
have done their best to impress upon the worshipper 
the mystic depths of meaning which life holds, at the 
last, having found that all these fail to express the 
truth in all its richness, we return to what we call the 
sacraments. It 1s as though we should say: After all, 


[ 90 ] 


HOLY COMM UN TON 


it is in the common responsibilities and personal ties, 
the common social relations, the meal times and the 
daily tasks of life that this evanescent mystery lies 
which we have been trying to express by song, and 
carven stone, and spoken word. Our passing life, with 
its trivial duties, its familiar associations, is the mys- 
tery of mysteries; it is the holy ground. After all the 
aspiring attempts of music and eloquence and archi- 
tecture to express the unexpressible, we come at last 
back to the common water and bread and wine of our 
daily lives, and passing them around among us, we 
spend a few moments in trying to realize the sacred- 
ness of the common day. A few moments once in a 
while are spent in realizing that this time, this life, 
which we are bartering away daily for the things that 
perish, has in itself possibilities of priceless beauty and 
value. It was this that Christ did when he instituted 
the Lord’s Supper. He took a quiet time in which he 
might hold, as it were, the passing moment in his 
heart, that he might realize afresh how good the fel- 
lowship and life of the present were, before they be- 
came things of the past. 

When we have been able to forget all our own little- 
nesses in great loyalty to Him as Redeemer and 
Friend, then some of the consecration and inspiration 
of that first communion season shall descend upon the 
remembrance of it in our church. And, lo, we shall all 
feel with us the mystic presence of One who loves us 
all as individually and tenderly as He did those first 
friends of His. To each of us He will speak in accents 
no child of His can doubt. In His own voice we shall 
each of us hear those great words of personal affec- 
tion and trust:— 


This is my body which is given for you. 


This is my blood which is shed for you. 
This do in remembrance of me. 


[91] 


SONIHSINUNA AGNV ONITIAO AAILONILSIC ‘MOT SLI HLIM YWOTUVd odIdvT AHL 





APPENDIX 


On the following pages are printed a few 
of the interesting documents preserved in 
the church archives. It was no easy task to 
transcribe these yellowed records, scrawled 
as they were by careless writers of an 
earlier day. Modern type can keep the 
curious tricks of spelling and of capitaliza- 
tion; it can set up, though awkwardly, the 
punctuation and the paragraphs as they 
once were; but it cannot retain the 
scratched deletions and the numerous in- 
terpolations that individualize the crum- 
bling pages now half illegible but still in- 
tensely human. 


[93 | 


HS SEA. OeNeD CHU RR Crespo onrGrs 


APPENDIX 


Early Minutes of the Church 


March 30%. 1763. . 
Mete upon an adjournment & Voted that there 
be a petition Sent Into next May Meeting for to know 
wheather the Town will Grant the westerly Inhabitants 
four months preching In the winters Seasons 
In a House that they Shall provide to meet In 
and Chose a Committy to Draw up a petition upon 
this Vote: Viz Mr. Alex. Shepard Mr. Thomas 
Miller & Mr. Joseph Hide. 


The Meeting is adjourned to this Day fortnit 


Minutes of the Meeting, 1764 


The Socitey met at the House of Mr. P. Bond on Adjournment 
The Socitey was pleased to make Choice of Mr. Moses 
Wheat as Clark for this Evining. 

1. itis Noted that the uper Window frames of the Gallery is to 
be Left till the House is up 

2. Voted that the pulpit Window be arching atop & four 
Quarreys Wide 

3. Voted that the Timber and slit work Bee on the Spott on the 
Midle of May Next. 

Voted that you meet at the School House this Day fortnight 
CU Ross agen tpe ete Magee to Settle Accounts with the Minister. 

March 16: 1764 Met at the School House on Adjornment to 
Settle the Subscription and to make up what is wanting to 
pay the minister and to pay Doc Moses Wheat for Enter- 
taining the minister 
Voted that this meeting be adjourned to the 21 Day of 
March to finish the settlement and anything else to act on. 

Newton December 3, 1764. 

Meet at the House of Mr. Phinihas Bond on adjornment and 
the meeting was opened and voted to Chouse a Committee 
to Lay out the money that is or Shal Be Subscribed for 
Preaching in the winter Season in the meeting House or sum 
other Convenant House and made Choyse of Mr. Jonathan 
Williams Thos Miller and Ens Jonathan Fuller for S4 Com- 
mittee 

Voted to Adjorn the meeting to the 17 Day of this Instant 
December at the House of Mr. Phinihas Bond at three oclock 
on S4 day 


[ 94 | 


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F Sige of the diab deed by which Phinehas Bond, on July 
2, 1764, 1n consideration of the sum of two pounds, eight shillings, 
conveyed to the Society eight rods of land in the “westwardly 
part of Newton” on which to erect a meeting house. This docu- 
ment, in form and penmanship, is similar to those here reprinted 
in the appendix. (See next page.) 


[95 


THE S‘E.COW D CHURCH BOOK 


Deed Conveying Ground for the Church Building 


KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that I Phinehas Bond 
of Newton in the County of Middlesex, Innholder. In Con- 
sideration of the Sum of Two Pounds Eight Shillings by me 
received of Thomas Miller, Innholder, Jonathan Williams, 
Yeoman and Samuel Hastings, Tanner, all of Newton afore- 
said, a Committee Ghosen by the Society Concerned in Build- 
ing a Meeting House at the Westwardly part of said Newton 
Do hereby Give, Grant and Convey to the said Thomas Miller, 
Jonathan Williams and Samuel Hastings, and all others be- — 
longing to the Society aforesaid, or that may hereafter belong 
thereto, TO BE HELD and Enjoyed by them their Heirs and 
Assigns forever, One Certain Tract of Land Lying in Newton 
aforesaid to Erect a Meeting House on, Meeting House and no 
other use, Containing about Eight Rods and Bounded West- 
wardly and Northwardly by my own Land, Eastwardly by the 
Country Road, Southwardly by the land of Isaac Williams; 
And I do Covenant with the said Society, their Heirs and As- 
signs, That said Premises are free of all Incumbrances, and 
that I will Warrant & Defend the Same to them, their Heirs 
and Assigns forever against all Lawful Claims. WITNESS my 
Hand & Seal July 2d A. D. 1764 

Signed, Sealed & Deliv. in Presence of Phinehas Bond 
John Rogers 
Lemvel Pratt 


Method of Raising Subscriptions (before the call- 
ing of aregular minister) 


Newton September 13th, 1775 


We the Subscribers do promise & engage each one for himself 
that we will pay unto Mr. Alexander Shepard the sum affixed 
against our names for contribution each Sunday that preaching 
is performed in the Proprietors meeting at the West part of this 
Town from this time until the next Spring unless any of us should 


remove from the town. 
Lawful Money 


Joshua Fuller, of 1%0 
John Pigeon, a Sundays dinner 
for the minister 


[ 96] 


APPENDIX 


Meeting of the Inhabitants of the West Precinct 


in Newton, March 1, 1781 


At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the West Precinct in Newton 
on the first day of March A. D. 1781. 


bie 
Di. 


3. 


Voted that Col Nathan Fuller be moderator of y* Meeting 


Voted Alex. Shepard Jun. be Precinct Clerk for the Ensuing 
Year 


Voted that the remaining part 24 Article be referred untill 
the 3d Article shall be considered 


Voted to proceed forthwith to the choice of a Public Teacher 
Religion among us 


Voted to choose a Committee to consist 9 persons to consider 
of Ways & means for the support of a Public Teacher of 
Religion among us, who are to report at the adjournment 
of this meeting & then made Choice of Mr. N. Greenough, 
Doc. Parker, Joseph Jackson, Alex. Shepard Jun., Col. 
Nathan Fuller, Capt. Jenks, Joseph Adams, Sam. Wood- 
ward, Josiah Fuller, Alex. Shepard. 


Voted that Col. Nathan Fuller be treasurer......... Lt. 
Josiah Fuller, Joseph Jackson be Assessors. 

Voted to excuse Alex. Shepard, Jun., be excused from serving 
as an Assessor the present year And that Sam. Woodward 
be an assessor in person of A. Shepard Jun. excused 

voted: Lilat.2...., the Collecting the Precinct Taxes the 
Present Year be sold at Public Vendue to the person who 
shall bid the lowest sum for said Collection... . Which was 
accordingly immediately sett up at public sale as afores# 
& Moses Craft bid it off at 34 upon the pound, he Giving 
Bond for the Performance. 

Voted that Moses Craft be a Collector of Precinct Taxes for 
the year ensuing 

Sworn at the time of choice 

Voted That List or Tax Roll of the last Grant made by the 
Precinct to be paid into the Treasurer on or before the 
first day of FebY shall be committed to Moses Craft the 
present collector for him to collect & the past year as- 
sessors are Directed to compleat s‘ List before the as- 
sessors for the ensuing year be sworn & committ the same 
to st Collector. 

Voted to adjourn this meeting to the 34 Monday in this 
Instant at 2 oClock P. M. at this place. 

Met agreeable to the above adjournment at time & place. 


[97] 


SONIHSINUNA SLI GNY WOOU LINGWNIVLYALNGA FHL 














Ave oP By Ny) Det Xx 


Meeting continued 


1. Voted that Mr. Nathan Greenough, Col. Fuller, Mr. Francis 
Wright, Joseph Jackson & Moses Craft for a Standing 
Committee to manage the Prudentials of the Precinct the 
ensuing Year. 

2. Voted that such persons now present as were absent at the 
Choice of a public Teacher of Religion on the 1st Days of 
this Meet? now give in their Votes for a choice as afores®. 

3. Voted the Sum of £180 Silver money at 6/8 p. ounce 
or other money equivalent be and hereby is granted to be 
assessed on the Polls Estates in this Precinct £60 of Said 
Sum to be paid in one year after Mr. William Greenough 
shall be ordained as a public teacher in this Precinct. £60 
more of s4 Sum to be paid in within two years after s¢ ordi- 
nation & the other £60 to be p? in three years after s4 
ordination, which sums are to be appropriated as a Settle- 
ment for st? Greenough. 

4. Voted that the sum of £70 Silver Money or other money 
equivalent to be estimated in Rye at 4/p Bush! Indian 
Corn @ 3/p Bush!, Beef at 23 p lb. & Pork at 33 p lb. be 
and hereby is granted to be assessed in such manner as 
shall hereafter be directed, which Grant shall be appro- 
priated as a Salary to be paid annually to Mr. Wm. 
Greenough should he settle as a pastor of the Church in 
the West Precinct untill he shall choose to receive £80 in 
Silver Money to be paid in s? Silver or other money equiv- 
alent, & also 12 Cords of good wood to be delivered annu- 
ally unto s? Greenough at his Dwelling house. 


5. Voted to choose a Committee to treat with Mr. William 
Greenough & to lay the aforesaid grants before him, & in 
behalf of the Precinct to make the aforesaid proposals to 
him and make a report of their doing to the Precinct at 
the adjournment of this meet®. ..& then made Choice of 
Joseph Jackson, N. Greenough, Capt. Jenks, Sam. Wood- 
ward, A. Shepard Jun, for st Com‘ 

6. Voted that this meet® be adjourned to tomorrow fortnight 
at this place 2 oClock P. M. 

At a Meeting agreeable to adjournment the 3¢ April, 1781. 


1. Voted That the use of pew No. 12 be immediately set up at 
public sale for the Term of one year which was accordingly 
done & Mr. Nathan. Greenough bid off the same for 1543 
pecks of Indian Corn 


[ 99 ] 


oo NI 


THE S.B.C.Q.N-D'C Bi ROH BO Ock 


Meeting continued 


Voted That the use of the Ministerial Pew be set up at Public 
Sale for the Term of one year from the date & in case the 
Precinct Standing Committee shall find it necessary to im- 
prove Sd Pew for the use of a Minister, the person who 
shall purchase the same, shall relinquish his purchase, & 
pay only for the time he shall improve s¢ Pew in propor- 
tion to the time hired for — and Mr. Nathan Park bid off 
the same for four Bushel of Indian Corn.— 


Voted That Mess. Nathanl Greenough & Nathan Park be 
esteemed meet persons to improve the Pews N° 12 & the 
Ministerial Pew the present Year. 

Voted that 3 Cords of Wood be hereby granted in addition 
to the 12 Cord of Wood already granted to Mr. William 
Greenough to be delivered as the afores4 12 Cord at time 
& place. 

Voted to Choose a Committee to join with a Committee of 
the Church to invite Mr. William Greenough to Settle as a 
Pastor of the Church in this place & a public Teacher of 
Religion & then made choice of Alexd Shepard, Nath! 
Greenough, Lt. Josiah Fuller for sd. Committee. 

Voted & Chose Lt. Josiah Fuller, Mr. Jonathan Williams, 
Mr. William Hoogs for auditing the treasurers accts. 

Voted that 4 Pew Spots be sold in the 4 back body seats. 

Voted that a Committee be appointed to estimate ye quan- 
tity of ground for 4 Pews in ye back body seats & the value 
of the same & make report at the adjournment of this 
Meet®, & then made Choice Alex? Shepard Jun., Col. 
Nathan Fuller, Lt. Josiah Fuller, Nathan Park, & Capt 
Sam! Jenks, Joseph Jackson, & Elisha Severns be s? 
<comn "oF. 

Voted that this meet® be adjourned to the first monday in 
may next at 2 °Clock P M. at this place 

At a Meet® of the Freeholders & other Inhabitants &c met 
on y® 1 Monday in May agreeable to adjournment made 
on the 3d day of April last. 


Voted that the Sum of Four Thousand pounds be assessed 
on y® Polls &c to be p4 into ye Precinct Treasury on or 
before the 1 day of July next 

Voted that the 7 Article in the Warrant be adjourned to 
the next meet? of the Inhabitants of this precinct. 

& the meeting was then disolved. 


[ 100 } 


APPENDIX 


IgLr “6 saquIsAON SYDINY>) FY} Jo JdISIUTUT JSIY 9YI JO SISIAIVS UOIB]]VISUT 9YI IOF [[Iq S4919}VD , 


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I ,.1'OCF 9 ,I so1dg 19yi0 29 SSauNNY OF, 
wee ( egar 6 /¢ sadig ‘zoq £t of, 
g "OI : I oS ssiene 4.8. Ces ne 8) pS 6 oy ul ysed 4g oO 18 /1 SUISIEY “q] g OL 
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bod g Ce ee kA pes, fad Cees aan ee, ae *svoyyy “qI gI Ag 9 jeag ‘q] gl OL 
eRe tn gee ee ssayq jo°zoqgg9 Ag v/S winy suoyeg & of 
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etc ® Wh 5 adr ad aes ia cae yonbsig jo ‘zoq ti Ag Vas Wog jo oOWIqI oF 
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i) , 4snousa15 UJEN O} UOJ MINT jo Yslied ISOM euUL “Ad 


rosa! 


THE: S:E COND CH UR CiH. 3B 0 O78 


The Deed of the Cemetery of the West Parish 
Church in Newton 


TO ALL PEOPLE to Whom these Presents shall come, 
I Nathan Fuller of Newton in the County of Middlesex & Com- 


monwealth of Massachusetts Esquire... .. 2.0.02. ..0 20.0, wee 


KNOW YE, that I the said Nathan Fuller 

In Consideration of the love & Esteem I have for the West Pre- 
cinct in Newton & also sixpence...to me in Hand paid before 
the Delivery hereof, by a Committee of said Precinct.......... 
The Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, Have given, 
granted, bargained, and sold, and do by these Presents, give, 
grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto the said Committee...... 
CAPE CUP IN AOR Yen may | hE their Heirs and Assigns forever, 
to the sole use and improvement of said Precinct to be improved 
only as a Burying place for the repository of the Dead in said 
Precinct one Acre & an half Acre of Land be the same more or 
less bounded as follows — Viz. Beginning at the Southeasterly 
corner, then Easterly on Land of Nathaniel Greenough, North- 
erly & Westerly of land of said Fuller—Southerly on the Town 
Way—as the Stone Fence round said Tract now standeth. The 
said Fuller, reserving to himself and his Heirs the Liberty of feed- 
ing said Tract at all times as there may be occasion with Calves 
& Sheep only — also reserving the fruit that shall be produced 
from the Trees now standing on said Tract.— Said Precinct to 
Maintain the fence on said Town Way. 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said granted and bargained 
unto said Committee for the Use of the Precincts as aforesaid 
AE EW ee together with all their Appurtenances, to their the 
said Precincts use as aforesaid and. .;...)...... see 


And'T the said NathanjFuller.) / 0.0... 2... he 
for myself, my Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, do hereby 
Covenant to and with the said Committee & Precinct that at the 
sealing hereof I am the lawful Owner of said granted Premises, 
with the Appurtenances, and stand seized thereof in my own 
proper Right, as a good Estate in Fee Simple, that I have lawful 
Right to sell the same as aforesaid, that they are free of all En- 
cumbrances whatever. And further, that I, my Heirs, Executors 
and Administrators, shall and will warrant and defend said 
pranted Premises cami EE ae eas unto the said Com- 
mittee & Precincts. ii)... i 2s dae eo ee 
their Heirs and Assigns forever, against the Claims of all People. 


[ 102 | 


Ned Sat vil ON Bt hah < 


In Witness whereof I the said Nathan Fuller 
have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Twenty-fifty Day of 
September Anno Domini, One Thousand Seven Hundred and 
SE Nag 0G Tae See OR I ote UI 48 Td Re Oc ae Re MMe Tp LOR 


Signed, Sealed and Delivered 
in Presence of us, 
Sam! Jenks 
Josiah Fuller Nathan Fuller 
Middlesex S*— January 28th 1782 


The above-named Nathan Fuller 
personally appeared and owned this Instrument to be his 
free Act and Deed before me. 


John Woodward Just. Pacis 


Letter to the Selectmen about an Intended 
Marriage 


Newton November 4th 1782. 
Gentlemen: 

We the subscribers, are informed that there is an intention 

of Marriage between Mr. Isaac Williams of this Parish and a cer- _ 
tain Vagrant woman by the name of Crosby alias Crosman... we 
are so fully acquainted with her Character as to make it appear 
to us an indispensible duty, which we owe to this Town... .to 
ourselves & indeed to humane society....faithfully to remon- 
strate against such a marriage which we humbly conceive would 
be attended with evil consequences to this town, if not to the 
- sacred ordinance of Matrimony..... 
We therefore humbly pray you Gentlemen, (the Civil Fathers of 
this Town) would be pleased to use every lawful endeavor in 
your power to prevent such a marriage..... and to that end 
Gentlemen we beg leave to recommend the speedy & immediate 
removal of this Vagrant Woman to the place to which she be- 
longeth, if such place may be found, relying on your wisdom to 
conduct and abilities to execute 

We are Gentlemen with unfeigned respect your 


To the Gentlemen 


aletemenvab Newton Friends & very humble Servants 


Josiah Fuller Alex. Shepard Jun’r Joshua Jackson 
Peter Drall Joseph Adams Jun’r Sam. Jenk 
Nathan Fuller William Upham Jr. David Fuller 
Daniel Cheney Daniel Jackson Sam. Woodward 
Joseph Fuller, Jun. Phinehas Jackson Elisha Seaverns 
Joseph Adams Benjamin Prentice 


Nathan Parkhurst Samuel Jackson 
Jonathan Stone 


[ 103 ] 


T.HvE S'EsCO N D\ CRU, RC Hy BeOvouk 


A Letter Concerning the Division of the Town 


SIR 


into Two Parishes 
(About 1778?) 


Were you sensible of my feeling, and with what Reluc- 
tancy I give y® y* trouble it would be a sufficient apology. 
Nothing but an ardent zeal, faithfully to discharge the 
trust reposed in me by a respectable N°. of the Inhabi- 
tants of this Town could induce me so often to intrude 
on y™ patience. It is now more than 40 years since the 
aforesaid Inhabitants and their predecessors first pro- 
cured preaching by Subscription and for 16 year last 
past have procured Preaching the whole or part of each 
year in like manner frequent applications we'® made to 
the Town for relief — but as often refused 

on application to the Hon. Assembly a Com*e was ap- 
pointed and after a full & fair hearing on the Spot — re- 
ported in our favor, but was stoped..... a New Comittee 
appointed — which Com‘ after a fair hearing reported 
in our favor — but at this day objections again take 
place.) ... which objections I Wd conceive is confined 
to this single point whether the line shall run straight 
or whether there shall be Three Different courses... . 
the former will take in no land subject to a Tax to the 
Precinct withouy y* consent of y® owners 


but about 18 Acres of unimprov4 non-resident lands 
The whole taken in wili not (I am almost certain) be 
100 Acres. . . The latter will leave out one or More Fami- 
lies one Mile from the Meethouse and take in others at 
Two Miles distance which must pass by those very 
houses left out to get to s? Meethouse. it also leaves 
out 3 of the Petitioners........... from whence I can- 
not see but my Opponent give the Hon", Assembly all 
this trouble only for the small Tax on the 18 Acres of 
Non Residents lands which I am confident never was 
Taxed 2/ in One Year to the Minister...... these naked 
as they appear are all they hold up to view — but I mis- 
take if another Tax on the Precinct is not their object 
...which they most certainly will obtain if the Bill is 
not Enacted this session....Excuse me Sir when w* 
importunity I beg y* kind assistance in forward®. the 
progress of the Bill that the oppressive burthens of those 
Inhabitants may be removed...... I cannot but sug- 


[ 104 ] 


AP PEN DT X 


gest our unhappy Situation, that we are now to be op- 
posed by all the Rhetoric & great powers of Maj? Fuller 
not as a party in y® town nor as a Com*e of the town 
nor as a party Councellor. ..as he says — but I humble 
conceive it is all Three in one......... he says he should 
not have made any objections now, only as I informed 
him the Comte meaning y® Comte of Newton Col. 
Hammond agreed to y® Bill which I at that time pre- 
sent? to him for his approbation...which I really did 
meaning the Honble, Comttee of the Assembly whose 
right alone it was to agree to said Bill..... poor subter- 
fuge for giving all this trouble to the Assembly for 2/ 
Annual income. 

In haste can only beg you would pardon my freedom in 
thus loosely communicating my sentiment....... 


Method of Raising Minister’s Salary 


To Mr. Adolphus Smith, collector of taxes for 
the West Precinct in Newton: Greeting,— 

In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are 
required to levy and collect of the several persons named in the 
list herewith committed unto you each one his respective portion 
therein set down of the sum total of such list it being four hun- 
dred and eighty dollars and eighty four cents, granted by the in- 
habitants of the West Precinct in Newton, at their annual meet- 
ing in March last, for paying the Rev. William Greenough his 
salary, and for defraying the contingent charges of the Precinct, 
the present year, and you are to transmit and pay in the same 
unto Captain James Fuller, Treasurer of said Precinct or to his 
successor in that office, and to complete and make up an amount 
of your collection of the whole sum, on or before the first day of 
November next; and if any person shall refuse or neglect to pay 
the sum he is assessed in said list, to distrain the goods or chattels 
of such person to the value thereof, and the distress is taken to 
keep for the space of four days at the cost and charge of the 
owner, and if he shall not pay the sum so assessed, within the 
said four days, then you are to sell at public vendu the distress so 
taken for the payment thereof with charges; first giving forty- 
eight hours notice of such sale by posting up advertisements 
thereof in some public place in said precinct; and the overplus 
arising from such sale, if any there be, besides the sum assessed 
and the necessary charges of taking and keeping the distress, you 
are immediately to restore to the owner, and for want of goods 


[ 105 ] 


THE SECOND CHURCH BOOK 





and chattels, whereon to make distress (besides tools or imple- 
ments necessary for his trade or occupation, beasts of the plough 
necessary for his cultivation of his improved lands, arms, utensils 
for housekeeping necessary for up-holding life, bedding and ap- 
parel necessary for himself and family) for the space of twelve 
days, you are to take the body of such person so refusing or neg- 
lecting, and him commit unto the common gaol of the County, 
there to remain until he pay the same, or such part thereof as 
shall not be abated by the assessors for the time being, or the 
Court of general sessions of the peace for said County. Given 
under our hands and seals this 12th day of July, A. D. 1828. 


Ephraim Jackson 
Tea srt \ ASSESSORS 





[ 106 | 


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